Thomas Maclear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Maclear
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Thomas Maclear 1833
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| Born | 17 March 1794 Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Ireland
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| Died | 14 July 1879 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | astronomer |
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Sir Thomas Maclear (born March 17, 1794 – died July 14, 1879) was an important astronomer. He was born in Ireland but became a famous astronomer in South Africa. He was even called 'Her Majesty's Astronomer' at the Cape of Good Hope.
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Early Life and Career
Thomas Maclear was born in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Ireland. He was the oldest son of James Maclear and Mary Magrath. When he was 14, in 1808, he went to England. There, he studied to become a doctor.
In 1815, he passed his exams. He was then accepted into the Royal College of Surgeons of England. After that, he worked as a surgeon at the Bedford Infirmary.
Family Life
In 1823, Thomas Maclear started working with his uncle. They were partners in a business in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Two years later, in 1825, he got married. His wife was Mary Pearse. She was the daughter of Theed Pearse.
Becoming an Astronomer
Thomas Maclear loved looking at the stars. This was his hobby, or "amateur astronomy." He became very involved with the Royal Astronomical Society. He was even named a Fellow of this important group.
In 1833, a special job became available. It was 'Her Majesty's Astronomer' at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Thomas Maclear was chosen for this role.
Moving to South Africa
In 1834, Maclear sailed to South Africa. He travelled on a ship called the Tam O'Shanter. His wife and their five daughters came with him.
He started his new duties at the observatory. From 1834 to 1838, he worked with another famous astronomer, John Herschel. They worked together to map the southern sky. Maclear continued to make important observations for many years.
The Maclear and Herschel families became very good friends. Their wives, Mary Maclear and Margaret Herschel, also became close. They understood each other because their husbands had unusual jobs. They also had many children to raise. Mary Maclear was known for her beauty and intelligence. However, she was very deaf.
Measuring the Earth
From 1841 to 1848, Maclear worked on a big project. He did a geodetic survey. This means he measured the Earth's shape and size. He did this by measuring an arc on the Earth's surface.
He even had a special beacon built on top of Table Mountain. This beacon helped him check earlier measurements. These measurements were made by an astronomer named Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille.
Other Contributions
Thomas Maclear became good friends with David Livingstone. Livingstone was a famous explorer of Africa. They both shared an interest in exploring the continent.
Maclear did many other useful scientific things. He collected data about the weather, Earth's magnetic field, and ocean tides.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1861, Thomas Maclear's wife, Mary, passed away. Two years later, he was given a pension. This meant he could retire, but he kept working. He finally retired from the observatory in 1870. He then lived in a house called Grey Villa in Mowbray.
By 1876, he had lost his eyesight. He died three years later, in 1879, in Cape Town, South Africa. He is buried next to his wife. Their graves are on the grounds of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope.
Awards and Honors
Thomas Maclear received many awards for his important work:
- He was made a Knight in 1860. This was for his great achievements as an astronomer.
- He won the Lalande Prize in 1866.
- He received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society in 1869. This was for his work in measuring the arc of the meridian in the 1840s.
Many places and things are named after him:
- A crater on the Moon is called Maclear.
- Maclear's Beacon on Table Mountain is named after him.
- The South African town of Maclear, Eastern Cape is named in his honor.
- Cape Maclear in Malawi was named by his friend, David Livingstone.
See also
- John Maclear: Thomas's son, who became an admiral in the Royal Navy. He commanded the famous Challenger expedition.
- Charles Piazzi Smyth
- Edward James Stone
