Alexander Wilson (astronomer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Wilson
FRSE |
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| Born | 1714 St Andrews, Scotland
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| Died | 16 October 1786 (aged 71–72) Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Known for | Wilson effect Wilson Greek |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy Mathematics Meteorology Type-making |
| Institutions | University of Glasgow |
| Notes | |
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Member of the Glasgow Literary Society
Member of the Edinburgh Philosophical Society Founder Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1783) |
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Alexander Wilson (1714 – 16 October 1786) was a Scottish scientist. He worked as a surgeon, a type-founder (someone who makes letters for printing), an astronomer, a mathematician, and a meteorologist. He was the first scientist to use kites to study the weather.
His son, Patrick Wilson, followed in his footsteps. In 1784, Patrick took over his father's job as the Professor of Practical Astronomy at the University of Glasgow.
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Growing Up in Scotland
Alexander Wilson was born in St Andrews, Scotland, in 1714. His father, Patrick Wilson, was the town clerk. Alexander went to the University of St Andrews and earned his master's degree in 1733 when he was 18.
After university, he trained to be a doctor in St Andrews. He became very good at making thermometers out of glass and mercury. In 1737, he moved to London to find work. He became an assistant to a French surgeon, helping to care for patients.
While in London, he met Lord Isla. Lord Isla was also interested in astronomy, just like Wilson. Wilson even built some scientific tools for Lord Isla in 1738.
Starting a Type-Foundry Business
One day, Wilson visited a type foundry with a friend. This is a place where metal letters for printing are made. He got an idea for how to make even better letters.
In 1739, he and his friend John Baine went back to St Andrews. They started their own type-founding business in 1742. Their company made special letters called Wilson Greek typefaces. These were used in 1756 to print famous Greek books.
Working at the University of Glasgow
In 1744, Wilson's company moved closer to Glasgow, to a place called Camlachie. The University of Glasgow hired him in 1748 to be their official type-founder. The next year, he and John Baine ended their business partnership. Later, Wilson's own sons joined the company.
His typefaces were used by the Foulis press, which was famous for printing beautiful books. Even today, some modern typefaces like Fontana and Scotch Roman are based on the letters Wilson designed.
Studying Weather with Kites
In 1749, Wilson did something amazing. He made the first recorded use of kites to study meteorology, which is the science of weather. He did this with a 23-year-old student named Thomas Melvill.
They used a train of kites (many kites tied together) to measure the air temperature at different heights above the ground at the same time. This helped them understand how temperature changes in the atmosphere. Melvill later went on to discover sodium light.
Wilson also invented something called hydrostatic bubbles in 1757. These were a type of hydrometer, a tool used to measure the density of liquids.
Becoming an Astronomy Professor
With help from his friend Lord Isla (who was now the 3rd Duke of Argyle), Wilson became a professor. In 1760, he was appointed to a new position at the University of Glasgow: Professor of Practical Astronomy. The university had just built a new place for studying stars, called the Macfarlane Observatory.
Wilson made important discoveries in astronomy and meteorology. He even suggested that the entire universe might rotate around a central point. This was his idea about "what hinders the fixed stars from falling upon one another," a question that Isaac Newton had asked many years before.
Discovering the Wilson Effect
Wilson noticed something interesting about sunspots. When you look at sunspots near the edge of the Sun, they seem to be slightly lower than the Sun's surface. This observation is now called the Wilson effect.
The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters offered a prize for the best essay about sunspots. Wilson submitted his work, and on February 18, 1772, he won a gold medal for his discoveries!
Later Life and Legacy
A crater on the Moon is named Wilson in his honor, as well as for two other scientists named Wilson.
Alexander Wilson and his second son, Patrick Wilson, were both founding members of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). This is a famous scientific society in Scotland. Patrick later wrote an article about his father's life and work.
Alexander Wilson passed away in Edinburgh on October 16, 1786.
