Charles Meldrum facts for kids

Charles Meldrum (born October 29, 1821 – died August 28, 1901) was a clever Scottish scientist who studied weather and stars. He was known for his important work in Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean.

Early Life and Education

Charles Meldrum was born in a place called Kirkmichael, Banffshire in Scotland. His father, William Meldrum, was a farmer. Charles went to Marischal College, Aberdeen for his education. He was a very good student and earned his Master of Arts degree in 1844.

A New Start in Mauritius

In 1846, Charles Meldrum started working in the education department in Bombay, India. Two years later, he moved to the Royal College of Mauritius. There, he became a Professor of Mathematics.

In 1851, he helped start the Mauritius Meteorological Society. This group studied the weather. Charles worked as its secretary for many years.

Studying Cyclones

In 1862, Charles became the government observer at a small weather station in Port Louis, Mauritius. He looked at old ship logs, which are like diaries kept by sailors. By studying these logs, he learned a lot about how cyclones (big, powerful storms) move in the Indian Ocean.

Charles Meldrum was the first person to prove that cyclone winds blow in a spiral shape towards the center of the storm. Before him, many thought the winds just blew in a circle. This discovery was super important for sailors. It helped them understand how to navigate safely when tropical storms were near.

Building a Better Observatory

The weather station in Port Louis wasn't the best place for studying weather. With help from General Sir Edward Sabine, who was the head of the Royal Society, Charles Meldrum planned a new, much better observatory.

The Royal Alfred Observatory

The new observatory was built in a marshy area in Pamplemousses District. In 1870, the Duke of Edinburgh helped lay the first stone for the building. The new place, called the Royal Alfred Observatory, started working in 1874.

Its main job was to study how storms moved. But from 1880, they also started taking daily pictures of the sun's surface. These pictures helped create a continuous record of sunspots, which are dark spots on the sun. This record was combined with pictures taken at Greenwich in England and Dehra Dun in India. The Pamplemousses observatory was eventually taken down in 1961. Its weather work moved to Vacoas.

Awards and Recognition

Charles Meldrum was recognized for his important scientific work.

• On April 15, 1868, he became a member of the Royal Meteorological Society.
• On March 11, 1870, he became a member of the Royal Astronomical Society.
• In 1876, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists.
• Also in 1876, the University of Aberdeen gave him an honorary degree called LL.D.
• In 1886, he was given the title C.M.G. (which stands for Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George).
• He was also a member of the governor's council from 1886 until he retired in 1896.

Later Life

After retiring in 1896, Charles Meldrum moved back to England and lived in Southsea. He passed away in Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 28, 1901, and is buried there. He had married Charlotte Fitzpatrick in Mauritius in 1870.