John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Wrottesley
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| Born | 5 August 1798 near Wolverhampton
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| Died | 27 October 1867 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | British |
| Awards | Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1839) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astronomy |
| 28th President of the Royal Society | |
| In office 1854–1858 |
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| Preceded by | William Parsons |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Collins Brodie |
John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley (born August 5, 1798 – died October 27, 1867) was an important English astronomer. He was known for his detailed studies of stars. He also led several major scientific groups in Britain.
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Contents
Early Life and Education
John Wrottesley was born near Wolverhampton, England. His father was the first Baron Wrottesley. A baron is a noble title in Britain. John went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university. He studied mathematics and graduated with top honors in 1819. When his father passed away in 1841, John became the 2nd Baron Wrottesley.
Contributions to Astronomy
John Wrottesley was a very talented astronomer. He helped start the Royal Astronomical Society. This is a group for people who study stars and space. He was the president of this society from 1841 to 1842.
Star Catalog and Awards
In 1839, John Wrottesley received a special award. He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. This is one of the highest honors in astronomy. He earned it for his book called Catalogue of the Right Ascensions of 1,318 Stars. This book was a very detailed map of over a thousand stars. It helped other astronomers find and study these stars.
Leadership in Science
John Wrottesley was also a leader in other scientific fields. In 1853, he spoke in the House of Lords. This is part of the British government. He talked about Matthew Fontaine Maury's work. Maury had new ideas about studying weather and ocean currents.
In 1855, Wrottesley became the President of the Royal Society. This is one of the oldest and most respected science organizations in the world. He was also the President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1860. During his time as president, a famous debate happened at their meeting in Oxford. It was between scientists Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce.
Lunar Recognition
To honor his work, a crater on the Moon is named after him. It is called Wrottesley. This shows how important his contributions were to astronomy.
John Wrottesley passed away in October 1867. He was 69 years old.
Family Life
John Wrottesley married Sophia Elizabeth in 1821. They had five sons and two daughters together. Sadly, two of their youngest sons, Henry and Cameron, died while serving in warfare. His oldest son, Arthur Wrottesley, took over the family title after him. His third son was George Wrottesley.
See also
