The Royal Observatory dates its foundation from two warrants issued under the name of Charles II. On 4 March 1675 John Flamsteed was appointed 'royal observator' to the King, and on the following 22 June another warrant authorised the construction of 'a small observatory within our royal park at Greenwich'. The first warrant stated that Flamsteed was 'to apply himself...so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places'. The second warrant gave the purpose of the construction of the observatory to be 'in order to find out the longitude of places'.
For more than two centuries the Royal Observatory functioned on an established staff of ten or less, under the Astronomers Royal. Two influences expanded the role of the Observatory towards the end of the nineteenth century. As the Observatory's founding warrants, and all those succeeding, directed that its work should be to perfect astronomical navigation, it concentrated initially on observational work. However, during William Christie's period as Astronomer Royal (1881-1910), the installation of more powerful instruments of a higher power at Greenwich, reflecting the Astronomer Royal's interest in physical astronomy, made it necessary to increase the number of staff. At the same time the organisation of the Observatory became more structured as it became affected by the greater influence of wider civil service procedures, and this departmentalisation also led to a higher number of staff. The title the Royal Greenwich Observatory first came into use in 1948. The role of the Astronomer Royals in the R.G.O. ended in 1971, following the retirement of Richard van der Reit Woolley.
From the guide to the Royal Greenwich Observatory: Records and Papers, 1675-1998, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris, France | |||
| Sutton-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire | |||
| England | |||
| South America--Brazil--Sobral | |||
| Prime Meridian | |||
| Great Britain | |||
| England | |||
| Walkeringham, Nottinghamshire | |||
| Coningsby, Lincolnshire | |||
| Moon | |||
| England | |||
| Clayworth, Nottinghamshire | |||
| England | |||
| England | |||
| Hemingby, Lincolnshire | |||
| London, England | |||
| Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire | |||
| England | |||
| Great Britain | |||
| England | |||
| Greenwich, Kent | |||
| East Winch, alias Pedders Winch | |||
| Moon | |||
| South America--Brazil | |||
| Africa, West | |||
| England | |||
| England | |||
| Great Britain | |||
| Sun | |||
| Earth | |||
| Cambrai, France | |||
| England | |||
| England |
| Subject |
|---|
| Asteroids |
| Astronomers |
| Astronomical instruments |
| Astronomical instruments |
| Astronomical observatories |
| Astronomical observatories |
| Astronomical observatories |
| Astronomical observatories |
| Astronomical photography |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Astronomy |
| Telescopes (Astronomy) |
| Telescopes (Astronomy) |
| Astrophysics |
| Chronometers |
| Comets |
| Communication in science |
| Solar eclipses |
| Solar eclipses |
| Solar eclipses |
| Solar eclipses |
| Solar eclipses |
| Eros (Asteroid) |
| Gravitation (Constant of) |
| Lead mines and mining |
| Mathematics |
| Meteorology |
| Navigation |
| Nutation (Astronomy) |
| Planets |
| Prime meridian |
| Radio programs, Public service |
| Quarreling |
| Reflecting telescopes |
| Relativity (Physics) |
| Science |
| Science |
| Scientific expeditions |
| Spherical astronomy |
| Stars |
| Stars |
| Telegraph (Technology) |
| Time |
| Time |
| Time measurements |
| Time-signals |
| Transit-circle |
| World War, 1914-1918 |
| World War, 1914-1918 |
| Weather |
| World War, 1939-1945 |
| World War, 1939-1945 |
| World War, 1939-1945 |
| Occupation |
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| Activity |
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| Title | Relation Count |
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Corporate Body
Establishment 1675
Disestablishment 1990
Britons
Latin,
English
