John Field (astronomer) facts for kids
John Field (born between 1520 and 1530, died 1587) was an English astronomer. He was one of the first people in England to support the ideas of Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus believed the Earth orbited the Sun, not the other way around.
John Field was the son of Richard Field. He was likely born in East Ardsley in Yorkshire, England. He received a good education. Some historians think he might have studied at Oxford University.
Later, he lived in London. In 1556, he published his first Ephemeris. This was a book that showed where planets would be in the sky at different times. He also seemed to teach science to others.
Field's Family Life
John Field married Jane Amyas around 1560. She was from Kent. Sometime after that, they moved to Ardsley. He lived there until he passed away.
He was a respected gentleman in his community. In 1585, official records showed his family's coat of arms and his nine children. In his will, written in 1586, he called himself a "farmer, sometimes student in the mathematics sciences." This shows he loved studying math and astronomy.
John Field died shortly after writing his will. He was buried in the church porch at East Ardsley. A special plaque there says he was the first astronomer in England to share Copernicus's discoveries.
His Special Coat of Arms
On September 4, 1558, John Field received a special coat of arms and a crest. These were symbols that showed his achievements in astronomy. His crest featured a red arm reaching out from clouds. This arm was holding a golden orrery. An orrery is a model that shows how planets move around the Sun.
