John Welsh (meteorologist) facts for kids

John Welsh (1824–1859) was a Scottish scientist who studied the weather, known as a meteorologist. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special honor given to top scientists.

Who Was John Welsh?

John Welsh was an important meteorologist who made big contributions to how we study weather and Earth's magnetic field. He worked at the famous Kew Observatory in England, where he helped develop new ways to record scientific observations.

Early Life and Education

John Welsh was born on September 27, 1824, in a place called Boreland in Scotland. His father was a farmer. When John was about 11 years old, his father passed away. After that, his mother moved them to Castle Douglas, where John continued his schooling.

In 1839, when he was 15, John went to the University of Edinburgh. He planned to become a civil engineer, which is someone who designs and builds things like roads and bridges. He studied with some very smart professors there.

A Career in Meteorology

In 1842, a famous scientist named Sir Thomas Makdougall-Brisbane hired John Welsh. John became an observer at Sir Thomas's observatory in Makerstoun. This was his first step into the world of scientific observation.

By 1850, John wanted to move on to new challenges. Sir Thomas recommended him to the British Association, a group that managed the Kew Observatory. John quickly got a job there as an assistant to Francis Ronalds, who was in charge. Just three years later, in 1853, John Welsh took over from Ronalds and became the superintendent of Kew Observatory.

Exploring the Skies by Balloon

One of John Welsh's most exciting projects happened in 1852. He made four trips up into the sky in a hot air balloon! He flew with a famous balloon pilot named Charles Green. The purpose of these flights was to study the weather high above the ground.

John took detailed notes and measurements during these balloon trips. He wrote a full report about his findings, which was published in a major scientific journal called Philosophical Transactions in 1853. This work helped scientists understand more about the atmosphere.

Studying Earth's Magnetism

John Welsh also did important work studying Earth's magnetic field. In 1855, he went to a big exhibition in Paris, France. He showed off the special instruments used at Kew Observatory to measure magnetism and weather.

In 1856, he started regular measurements of the Earth's magnetic field strength and its "magnetic dip" at Kew. He used instruments provided by another scientist, Edward Sabine. John also helped build new self-recording instruments. These machines could automatically record magnetic data, making scientific work much easier.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1857, John Welsh was recognized for his scientific achievements and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He continued his work, even helping with a big survey of the magnetic field across the British Isles.

Sadly, John Welsh became ill with a lung disease in 1857. His health got worse, and he moved to Falmouth in England for the winter of 1858–1859, hoping to get better. However, he passed away there on May 11, 1859, at the age of 34.

John Welsh's work at Kew Observatory helped set new standards for meteorological and magnetic observations. His efforts contributed greatly to our understanding of weather and Earth's natural forces.

Kew Observatory Connections

John Welsh had a special connection to the Kew Observatory. He was the godfather to G.M. Whipple, who later became the superintendent of Kew Observatory himself from 1876 to 1893. Even G.M. Whipple's son, Francis Whipple, followed in their footsteps and was superintendent of Kew from 1925 to 1939. This shows how John Welsh's influence continued for many years at the observatory.