Kew Observatory: Correspondence and Papers

This series reflects the work of the Kew Observatory under its various committees and as the Observatory Department of the National Physical Laboratory, with registered files from 1821 onwards. Correspondence and papers of various officers of the observatory include those of John Welsh, John Peter Gassiot, Balfour Stewart, Samuel Jeffery (or Jeffrey), George Matthews Whipple, Robert Henry Scott and Francis John Welsh Whipple. Publications on meteorology and associated subjects include several by Sir Edward Sabine and George Matthews Whipple, and parliamentary papers, 1854-1875. Other papers include some Meteorological Office monthly reports, 1916-1924.

Further papers of Sir Edward Sabine are in BJ 3

Topics

Research

Official publications

The first Honorary Superintendent (1842) was Mr (later Sir) Francis Ronalds. He resigned in 1852 to be succeeded by John Welsh. Chairman of the Kew Committee was John Peter Gassiot. In 1859 Welsh died and was succeeded by Balfour Stewart. In 1871 Stewart resigned and Samuel Jeffery (or Jeffrey) was appointed Superintendent and Robert Henry Scott became Honorary Secretary to the Kew Committee. In 1876 Jeffrey was succeeded by George Matthews Whipple who remained Superintendent until his death in 1893, when his successor was Charles Chree.