John Brinkley (astronomer)
Encyclopedia
The Rt. Rev. John Mortimer Brinkley D.D. (ca. 1763?, Woodbridge, Suffolk
14 September 1835, Dublin) was the first Royal Astronomer of Ireland
and later Bishop of Cloyne
.
and was baptised there on 31 January 1763, the illegitimate son of Sarah Brinkley, a butcher's daughter. On being admitted to Cambridge
, he was recorded as being the son of John Toler Brinkley, a vintner, suggesting that his real father was John Toler, who was most probably John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury
, Chief Justice of the Irish Court of Common Pleas.
His exact date of birth is unknown; he has often been assigned the birth year 1763, as at least one obituary gives his age at death in 1835 as 72. However, his memorial at Trinity College, Dublin
states that he died aged 70; also, he was recorded as being 17 upon matriculation
at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
in August 1783, both of which imply a slightly later birth year.
in 1788 as senior wrangler and Smith's Prize
man, was elected a fellow of the college and was awarded M.A. in 1791. He was ordained
at Lincoln Cathedral
in the same year, and in 1792 became the second Andrews Professor of Astronomy
at the University of Dublin
. Together with John Law
, Bishop of Elphin, he drafted the chapter on "Astronomy" in William Paley
's Natural Theology. His main work concerned stellar astronomy and he published his Elements of Plane Astronomy in 1808. He was awarded the Copley Medal
by the Royal Society
in 1824. Brinkley's observations that several stars shifted their apparent place in the sky in the course of a year were disproved at Greenwich
by his contemporary John Pond
, the Astronomer Royal
. In 1826, he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in County Cork
, a position he held for the remaining nine years of his life.
Brinkley died in 1835 at Leeson Street, Dublin and was buried in Trinity College chapel. He was succeeded at Dunsink Observatory
by Sir William Rowan Hamilton
.
.
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
14 September 1835, Dublin) was the first Royal Astronomer of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and later Bishop of Cloyne
Bishop of Cloyne
The Bishop of Cloyne is an episcopal title which takes its name after the small town of Cloyne in County Cork, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it is a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics....
.
Early years
Brinkley was born in Woodbridge, SuffolkWoodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
and was baptised there on 31 January 1763, the illegitimate son of Sarah Brinkley, a butcher's daughter. On being admitted to Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he was recorded as being the son of John Toler Brinkley, a vintner, suggesting that his real father was John Toler, who was most probably John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury
John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury
John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury PC, KC , known as The Lord Norbury between 1800 and 1827, was an Irish lawyer, politician and judge. A greatly controversial figure in his time, he was Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas between 1800 and 1827...
, Chief Justice of the Irish Court of Common Pleas.
His exact date of birth is unknown; he has often been assigned the birth year 1763, as at least one obituary gives his age at death in 1835 as 72. However, his memorial at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
states that he died aged 70; also, he was recorded as being 17 upon matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in August 1783, both of which imply a slightly later birth year.
Career
He graduated B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1788 as senior wrangler and Smith's Prize
Smith's Prize
The Smith's Prize was the name of each of two prizes awarded annually to two research students in theoretical Physics, mathematics and applied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.- History :...
man, was elected a fellow of the college and was awarded M.A. in 1791. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
in the same year, and in 1792 became the second Andrews Professor of Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
. Together with John Law
John Law
John Law may refer to:*John Law *John Law DD was an English mathematician*John Law *John Law , Hong Kong film director...
, Bishop of Elphin, he drafted the chapter on "Astronomy" in William Paley
William Paley
William Paley was a British Christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian. He is best known for his exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of God in his work Natural Theology, which made use of the watchmaker analogy .-Life:Paley was Born in Peterborough, England, and was...
's Natural Theology. His main work concerned stellar astronomy and he published his Elements of Plane Astronomy in 1808. He was awarded the Copley Medal
Copley Medal
The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"...
by the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1824. Brinkley's observations that several stars shifted their apparent place in the sky in the course of a year were disproved at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
by his contemporary John Pond
John Pond
John Pond FRS was a renowned English astronomer who became the sixth Astronomer Royal, serving from 1811 to 1835.- Biography :...
, the Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal
Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
. In 1826, he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, a position he held for the remaining nine years of his life.
Brinkley died in 1835 at Leeson Street, Dublin and was buried in Trinity College chapel. He was succeeded at Dunsink Observatory
Dunsink Observatory
The Dunsink Observatory is an astronomical observatory established in 1785 in the townland of Dunsink near the city of Dublin, Ireland.Its most famous director was William Rowan Hamilton, who, amongst other things, discovered quaternions, the first non-commutative algebra, while strolling from the...
by Sir William Rowan Hamilton
William Rowan Hamilton
Sir William Rowan Hamilton was an Irish physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, who made important contributions to classical mechanics, optics, and algebra. His studies of mechanical and optical systems led him to discover new mathematical concepts and techniques...
.
Family
Brinkley married Esther, daughter of Matthew Weld of Molesworth Street, Dublin, by his wife Elizabeth Kane, daughter of Alderman Nathaniel Kane (d. 1757) of Drumreaske, Co. Monaghan, Sheriff (1720) and Lord Mayor (1734) of Dublin, and co-founder of the Bank of Kane & Latouche. Brinkley and his wife were the parents of two sons: John (1793–1840), a clergyman; and Matthew (1797–1855) J.P., of Parsonstown House, Co. Meath, who married a daughter of Dean Richard Graves and was the father of Francis BrinkleyFrancis Brinkley
Francis Brinkley was an Irish newspaper owner, editor and scholar who resided in Meiji period Japan for over 40 years, where he was the author of numerous books on Japanese culture, art and architecture, and an English-Japanese Dictionary...
.