Roger Long facts for kids
Roger Long (born 1680 – died December 16, 1770) was an important English astronomer. He was also the head, or Master, of Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge for many years, from 1733 to 1770.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Roger Long was born in 1680. His father was Thomas Long, who lived in a place called Croxton in Norfolk, England. Roger went to school at Norwich School. After that, he was accepted into Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1696 or 1697.
University Achievements
Roger Long finished his first degree (Bachelor of Arts) in 1700 or 1701. He then became a fellow at Pembroke College. A fellow is like a senior member or teacher at the college. In 1716, he became a priest and was given the job of Rector of Orton Waterville. He earned a higher degree, Doctor of Divinity, in 1728.
Master of Pembroke College
In 1733, Roger Long became the Master of Pembroke College. This meant he was in charge of the college. He held this important position for a long time, until 1770.
Astronomy Professor
From 1750 until his death in 1770, Roger Long was the very first person to hold a special job. This job was called the Lowndean Professorship of Astronomy. This shows how important he was in the field of astronomy.
Roger Long's Inventions
Roger Long was known as a very interesting person in Cambridge during the 1700s. He loved to invent things and was quite creative.
The Water-Work
In his own garden, he built something he called a "water-work." He even made a special kind of water-cycle. He would use this water-cycle to paddle around his water-work!
The First Planetarium
Roger Long also built something amazing called a "zodiack." Today, we would call this a planetarium. It was a huge, hollow sphere, big enough for thirty people to stand inside! This sphere showed how the planets and stars moved in the sky. It was a very early way to learn about space. This unique invention stayed on the grounds of Pembroke College until 1871.
