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{{about|the English astronomer|the Welsh football player|George Bishop (footballer)}}
{{Short description|English astronomer}}
{{use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
⚫
'''George Bishop''' ([[Leicester]], 21 August 1785-14 June 1861), was a noted [[British people|British]] [[astronomer]] of the nineteenth century.
[[File:George Bishop.jpg.webp|thumb|George Bishop, photograph c.1853]]
⚫
'''George Bishop''' (21 August 1785, in [[Leicester]] – 14 June 1861), was an [[English people|English]] [[astronomer]] of the nineteenth century.<ref name="obit_mnras">{{cite journal
| title = George Bishop
| journal = [[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
| volume = xxii
| issue = 4
| pages = 104–106
| publisher = [[Royal Astronomical Society]]
| location = [[London]], [[England]]
| date = 1862
| doi = 10.1093/mnras/22.4.97a
| bibcode = 1862MNRAS..22...97.
| doi-access = free
}}</ref><ref name="obit_royalsoc">{{cite journal
| title = George Bishop
⚫
| journal = [[Proceedings of the Royal Society]]
| volume = 12
| pages = iii–iv
| publisher = [[Royal Society]]
| location = [[London]], [[England]]
| date = 1862
| url = http://rspl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/i.full.pdf+html
| accessdate = 25 May 2015
}}</ref><ref name="lastronomiapratique">
⚫
L'Astronomia Pratique, André et Rayat, i. 95
</ref><ref name="annreg">
⚫
Ann. Reg. ciii. 402
</ref>


== Early life and fortune ==
== Early life and fortune ==
At the age of eighteen Bishop entered a British [[wine-making]] business in [[London]], subsequently becoming its proprietor, during his tenure as which the business was so successful that its [[excise]] returns were said to exhibit half of all home-made wines as of his manufacture. Bishop's scientific career began with his admission to the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] in 1830, funded by the money he had earned from the wine business. He took lessons in algebra from [[Augustus De Morgan]], with a view to reading [[Pierre-Simon Laplace]]'s five volume work ''Mécanique Céleste'' (Celestial Mechanics), by the age of fifty achieving his goal of sufficient mathematical knowledge to comprehend the scope of its methods.
At the age of eighteen Bishop entered a British [[wine-making]] business in [[London]], subsequently becoming its proprietor, during his tenure at which the business was so successful that its [[excise]] returns were said to exhibit half of all home-made wines as of his manufacture. Bishop's scientific career began with his admission to the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] in 1830, funded by the money he had earned from the wine business. He took lessons in algebra from [[Augustus De Morgan]], with a view to reading [[Pierre-Simon Laplace]]'s five volume work ''Mécanique Céleste'' (Celestial Mechanics), by the age of fifty achieving his goal of sufficient mathematical knowledge to comprehend the scope of its methods.


== Career in astronomy ==
== Career in astronomy ==
In 1836 Bishop was able to realise a long-held intention by erecting [[George Bishop's Observatory|an astronomical observatory]] near his residence at [[Regent's Park#The villas|the South Villa of Regent's Park]], on which he spared no expense in order to ensure that it would be of practical use. "I am determined," he said when choosing its site, "that this observatory shall do something."
In 1836 Bishop was able to realise a long-held intention by erecting [[George Bishop's Observatory|an astronomical observatory]] near his residence at [[Regent's Park#The villas|the South Villa of Regent's Park]], on which he spared no expense in order to ensure that it would be of practical use. "I am determined," he said when choosing its site, "that this observatory shall do something."


A testimonial was awarded to Bishop by the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] in 1848 "for the foundation of an observatory leading to various astronomical discoveries" and presented to him with a warmly commendatory address by Sir [[John Herschel]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]|volume=viii|page=105}}</ref> He acted as secretary to the society from 1833-9 and as treasurer 1840-57, and was chosen president in two successive years, 1857 and 1858, although the state of his health rendered him unable to take the chair. Bishop was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] 9 June 1848, was also a fellow of the [[Royal Society of Arts]], and sat for some years on the council of [[University College London|University College]].
A testimonial was awarded to Bishop by the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] in 1848 "for the foundation of an observatory leading to various astronomical discoveries" and presented to him with a warmly commendatory address by Sir [[John Herschel]].<ref name="rasaward">{{cite journal
| last = Herschel
| first = John F. W.
| authorlink = John Herschel
| title = Sir J. F. W. Herschel's Address on the Award of the Testimonials
| journal = [[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
| volume = viii
| issue = 4
| pages = 105–107
| publisher = [[Royal Astronomical Society]]
| location = [[London]], [[England]]
| date = 1848
| doi=10.1093/mnras/8.4.102
| bibcode=1848MNRAS...8..103H
| doi-access = free
}}</ref>


He acted as secretary to the society from 1833 to 1839 and as treasurer from 1840 to 1857, and was chosen president in two successive years, 1857 and 1858, although the state of his health rendered him unable to take the chair. Bishop was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] on 9 June 1848, was also a fellow of the [[Royal Society of Arts]], and sat for some years on the council of [[University College London|University College]].
⚫
After a long period of physical but not mental illness, Bishop died on the 14th of June 1861 at the age of 76.

⚫
After a long period of physical illness, but during which he retained his mental faculties, Bishop died on 14 June 1861 at the age of 76.


== Publications ==
== Publications ==
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{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
{{DNB|wstitle=Bishop, George|last=Clerke|first=Agnes Mary|authorlink=Agnes Mary Clerke}}
{{DNB|wstitle=Bishop, George|last=Clerke|first=Agnes Mary|authorlink=Agnes Mary Clerke}}
* {{cite journal|journal=[[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]|volume=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]]|volume=xxii|page=104}}
⚫
* {{cite journal|journal=[[Proceedings of the Royal Society]]|year=1862|volume=12}}
⚫
* L’Astronomia Pratique, André et Rayat, i. 95
⚫
* Ann. Reg. ciii. 402
{{refend}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Astronomical_Observations_Taken_at_the_O.html?id=ZcJGAAAAcAAJ ''Astronomical Observations taken at the Observatory, South Villa, Regent's Park, during the years 1839-51''] on [[Google Books]]
* [https://books.google.com/books/about/Astronomical_Observations_Taken_at_the_O.html?id=ZcJGAAAAcAAJ ''Astronomical Observations taken at the Observatory, South Villa, Regent's Park, during the years 1839-51''] on [[Google Books]]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop, George}}
[[Category:1785 births]]
[[Category:1785 births]]
[[Category:1861 deaths]]
[[Category:1861 deaths]]
[[Category:British astronomers]]
[[Category:19th-century British astronomers]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery]]

Latest revision as of 00:21, 6 June 2024

George Bishop, photograph c.1853

George Bishop (21 August 1785, in Leicester – 14 June 1861), was an English astronomer of the nineteenth century.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and fortune

[edit]

At the age of eighteen Bishop entered a British wine-making business in London, subsequently becoming its proprietor, during his tenure at which the business was so successful that its excise returns were said to exhibit half of all home-made wines as of his manufacture. Bishop's scientific career began with his admission to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1830, funded by the money he had earned from the wine business. He took lessons in algebra from Augustus De Morgan, with a view to reading Pierre-Simon Laplace's five volume work Mécanique Céleste (Celestial Mechanics), by the age of fifty achieving his goal of sufficient mathematical knowledge to comprehend the scope of its methods.

Career in astronomy

[edit]

In 1836 Bishop was able to realise a long-held intention by erecting an astronomical observatory near his residence at the South Villa of Regent's Park, on which he spared no expense in order to ensure that it would be of practical use. "I am determined," he said when choosing its site, "that this observatory shall do something."

A testimonial was awarded to Bishop by the Royal Astronomical Society in 1848 "for the foundation of an observatory leading to various astronomical discoveries" and presented to him with a warmly commendatory address by Sir John Herschel.[5]

He acted as secretary to the society from 1833 to 1839 and as treasurer from 1840 to 1857, and was chosen president in two successive years, 1857 and 1858, although the state of his health rendered him unable to take the chair. Bishop was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 9 June 1848, was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and sat for some years on the council of University College.

After a long period of physical illness, but during which he retained his mental faculties, Bishop died on 14 June 1861 at the age of 76.

Publications

[edit]
  • Astronomical Observations taken at the Observatory, South Villa, Regent's Park, during the years 1839-51, including a catalogue of double stars observed by Dawes and Hind, with valuable "historical and descriptive notes" by the latter, observations of new planets and comets, and of the temporary star discovered by Hind in Ophiuchus 27 April 1848, and a description of the observatory; London: Taylor, Walton and Maberly, 1852.

References

[edit]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Clerke, Agnes Mary (1885–1900). "Bishop, George". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

  1. ^ "George Bishop". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. xxii (4). London, England: Royal Astronomical Society: 104–106. 1862. Bibcode:1862MNRAS..22...97.. doi:10.1093/mnras/22.4.97a.
  2. ^ "George Bishop". Proceedings of the Royal Society. 12. London, England: Royal Society: iii–iv. 1862. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  3. ^ L'Astronomia Pratique, André et Rayat, i. 95
  4. ^ Ann. Reg. ciii. 402
  5. ^ Herschel, John F. W. (1848). "Sir J. F. W. Herschel's Address on the Award of the Testimonials". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. viii (4). London, England: Royal Astronomical Society: 105–107. Bibcode:1848MNRAS...8..103H. doi:10.1093/mnras/8.4.102.
[edit]
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