John Bainbridge (astronomer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Bainbridge
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| Born | 1582 Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
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| Died | 3 November 1643 (aged 60–61) Oxford
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| Education | Free Grammar School |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
| Known for | Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
John Bainbridge (born 1582, died November 3, 1643) was a smart English scientist. He was an astronomer, which means he studied stars and planets. He was also a mathematician, someone who works with numbers and shapes.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
John Bainbridge was born in 1582 in a town called Ashby-de-la-Zouch. This town is in Leicestershire, England. His parents were Robert and Anne Bainbridge.
He went to the Free Grammar School in his hometown. After that, he studied at Emmanuel College in Cambridge.
Becoming a Doctor and Star-Gazer
After college, John went back to Ashby. For several years, he worked as a physician, which is a doctor. He also ran a school. But his real passion was studying the stars and planets, which is astronomy.
In 1618, he moved to London. There, he became a licensed doctor. People started to notice him because he wrote about a comet that appeared in 1618.
A Famous Professor
In 1618, John Bainbridge joined a group of scholars called the Gresham Circle. These scholars were part of a religious group called the Puritans.
A very important moment for him came in 1619. Sir Henry Savile (Bible translator), a famous scholar, chose John Bainbridge for a special job. He became the very first Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University. This was a huge honor!
As a professor, he joined Merton College at Oxford. He also gave important lectures there in 1631 and 1635.
Later Years and Friends
John Bainbridge remained a Puritan throughout his life. He passed away in Oxford on November 3, 1643.
He had some good friends who were also interested in science. One friend was Christopher Heydon, who wrote about astrology. Another friend was John Greaves. John Greaves later took over Bainbridge's job as the Savilian Professor.
What He Wrote
John Bainbridge wrote several books and translated others. These books helped people learn more about astronomy.
- An Astronomical Description of the late Comet (1619): This book was about the comet he observed in 1618.
- He translated two important ancient books:
- Canicularia (1648): This book was published after he died.
Some of his handwritten works can still be found today. They are kept in the Library at Trinity College, Dublin.
