Henry Andrews (mathematician) facts for kids
Henry Andrews (born in 1744 – died on January 26, 1820) was an amazing English mathematician and astronomer. He was born in a small village called Frieston, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England. Henry Andrews became very well-known for his skills in math and studying the stars.
What Did Henry Andrews Do?
Henry Andrews had a very busy life! For 43 years, he worked in his free time as the 'Compiler of the tables detailing the movement of the planets' for a famous book called Old Moore's Almanac. This meant he figured out where the planets would be in the sky.
His main job was a 'Calculator' for the Board of Longitude. This group worked on finding ways to figure out a ship's exact location at sea. Henry also started a special boarding school. Here, students could learn advanced subjects like trigonometry (a type of math) and navigation (how to steer a ship).
Besides all this, he ran a shop! His shop sold many interesting things. You could buy books, stationery, barometers (which measure air pressure), thermometers (which measure temperature), and other scientific tools.
A Valued Advisor
Henry Andrews was highly respected by other important scientists. He was a trusted advisor to the Rev'd Nevil Maskelyne, who was the Astronomer Royal. This was a very important job, like being the King's official astronomer!
Predicting a Solar Eclipse
One of Henry Andrews' most famous achievements was predicting an annular solar eclipse in 1791. An annular eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but it doesn't completely cover it. Instead, you see a bright ring of sunlight around the Moon.
He wrote about this eclipse, explaining where people would be able to see it. He said that in the northern parts of Scotland, it would be a very big eclipse. He also mentioned that it would start in places like Carolina and Virginia in America. Then, it would travel across areas like Hudson's Bay, Greenland, Iceland, and Lapland, before ending in northern Tartary as the sun set. It must have been amazing to see!
