John Flamsteed, the first astronomer-royal of England, was born at Denby near Derby, 19th August 1646. His success in mathematics and astronomy procured him the appointment of astronomer to the king in 1675. Next year Greenwich Observatory was built, and Flamsteed began the observations that commenced modern practical astronomy. He formed the first trustworthy catalogue of the fixed stars, and furnished those observations by which Newton verified his lunar theory. His great work is “Historia Cœlestis Britannica,” an account of astronomical observation (3 vols. 1723). Flamsteed took holy orders, and from 1684 till his death, 31st December 1719, held the Surrey living of Burstow.

Personal

  Mr. John Flamsteed, the King’s astronomer at Greenwich, was formerly my constant correspondent for many years, but upon publication of my “Dioptrics,” he took such offence at my placing a solution of his, of the 16, 17, and 18 propositions thereof, after, and not before, the solution I myself gave of the said proposition, that he broke his friendship with me, and that, too, with so much inveteracy, that I could never bring him to a reconciliation, though I have often endeavoured it, so that at last I slighted the friendship of a man of so much ill nature and irreligion, how ingenious and learned soever.

  Mr. John Flamsteed, the astronomer, was born at Darby. His father was a wealthy maltster, and this gentleman being deformed, and therefore the outcast of the family, was imployed by his father to carry out malt with the brewing pan; but finding this way of carrying very tiresome, he invented and made with his own hands a wheel-barrow, by which he thought to have eased the trouble and pains of carrying it on his back; but instead of ease, he found greater trouble, the burthen now being more considerable than before, by reason he had a much larger quantity to convey away at a time. This inconvenience made him repent that ever he had made a wheel-barrow, the thought of which he could never afterwards endure. At leisure times he studied the art of astronomy, and became eminent in it, insomuch that at last he sent to Mr. William Lilly, the famous figure-flinger, and took occasion to correct many of his errors and mistakes. Upon which Lilly, sir Jonas More, and sir George Wharton agreed to give him a meeting, appointing the place for the conference to be the middle way between London and Derby. Upon this conference the said gentlemen were so well satisfied with Flamsteed’s skill in the art of astronomy, that at their return to London they recommended him to king Charles the IId. as a man of great abilities in the foresaid profession. Whereupon the king erected him an observatory at Greenwich, upon the hill, where he hath continued ever since to make observations, and hath promised to publish a very large book in folio, containing the remarks he hath made in astronomy from the first beginning of his observations at Greenwich: which book is all, or at least most of it, already printed by the encouragement of prince George of Denmark. It hath been revised by Dr. Halley, and many mistakes found in it; but I do not hear that ’tis like to come out as yet, Mr. Flamsteed endeavouring as much as he can to hinder it’s [sic] publication, being not thoroughly pleased that Dr. Halley should discover his errours; and withall he thinks that he ought to have more and better rewards than he hath yet met with, before his works appear, tho’ ’tis very certain that the encouragement he hath already found is much beyond his merits, if we may credit divers ingenious persons that know the man, and his principles, (which are republican,) and his sniveling, covetous temper.

  Attainments in science have certainly nothing to do with the present question; but after Flamsteed has charged Newton with illegal, unjust, and immoral acts, upon no evidence but his own, and has sullied that venerable name with vulgar and offensive abuse,—it is a strange position to maintain, that we are not to inquire into the temper and character of the accuser. In the revolting correspondence which Flamsteed has bequeathed to posterity, he has delineated his own character in sharp outline and glaring tints; and Newton requires no other Ægis to defend him than one whose compartments are emblazoned with the scurrilous invectives against himself, and garnished with pious appeals to God and to Providence. We have hesitated, however, to associate the sacred character of the accuser with systematic calumny; and we hasten to forget that there may be an astronomer without principle, and a divine without charity.

  Flamsteed was in many respects an excellent man—pious and conscientious, patient in suffering, of unimpeachable morality, and rigidly abstemious habits. His wife and servants were devoted to him, living and dead; but his naturally irritable temper, aggravated by disease, could not brook rivalry. He was keenly jealous of his professional reputation. His early reverence for Newton was recorded in the stray note among his observations: “I study not for present applause; Mr. Newton’s approbation is more to me than the cry of all the ignorant in the world.” Later he was not ashamed to call him “our great pretender,” and to affect scorn for his “speculations about gravity,” “crotchets,” and “conceptions.” The theory of gravitation he described in 1710 as “Kepler’s doctrine of magnetical fibres, improved by Sir C. Wren, and prosecuted by Sir I. Newton” adding, “I think I can lay some claim to a part of it.” He had certainly, in 1681, spoken of the attraction of the sun as determining the fall towards him of the great comet, but attributed the curve of its path to the resistance of the planetary vortex.

General

  Galileo Galilei was the first who discovered four planets moving constantly round Jupiter, from thence usually called his satellites, which afterwards were observed to have a constant, regular, and periodical motion. This motion is now so exactly known, that Mr. Flamsteed, who is one of the most accurate observers that ever was, has been able to calculate tables of the eclipses of the several satellites, according to which, Astronomers in different quarters of the world, having notion of the precise time when to look for them, have found them to answer to his predictions, and published their observations accordingly.

  Mr. Flamsteed, with indefatigable pains, for more than forty years, watched the motions of the stars, and has given us innumerable observations of the sun, moon, and planets, which he made with very large instruments exactly divided by most exquisite art, and fitted with telescopical sights.

  One of the greatest astronomers that Europe produced in the seventeenth century…. It is greatly to Flamsteed’s credit, that he brought into disrepute the silly study of astrology, which the wisest men, as well as the most ignorant, had pursued with a strange partiality, for more than two centuries.

  It is a matter of astonishment that he accomplished so much, considering his slender means, and the vexations which he continually experienced.

  He made no improvements in theory; but he is entitled to the merit of having been the first who brought into common use the method of simultaneously observing the right ascension of the sun and a star.

  His ingenuity in the improvement of instruments, his scrupulous accuracy, his indomitable perseverance under difficulties, place him beside Tycho Brahé as an observer of the first order; but he differed from the Danish astronomer, both in the greater advantage of possessing telescopes and in the greater misfortunes of poverty and ill health. He was presented to a small living, and his salary as Astronomer Royal was £100 a year; out of this he had to buy and keep in repair all his instruments, and to pay his assistant.