An honorary title held by a prominent British astronomer, created in 1675 by King Charles II when the Royal Observatory was founded. Until 1971 the Astronomer Royal was also Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but the post was subsequently made separate.
Astronomers Royal
Name | Held office |
|---|
John Flamsteed (1646–1719) | 1675–1719 |
Edmond Halley (1656–1742) | 1720–42 |
James Bradley (1693–1762) | 1742–62 |
Nathaniel Bliss (1700–1764) | 1762–64 |
Nevil Maskelyne (1732–1811) | 1765–1811 |
John Pond (1767–1836) | 1811–35 |
George B. Airy (1801–92) | 1835–81 |
William H. M. Christie (1845–1923) | 1881–1910 |
Frank W. Dyson (1868–1939) | 1910–33 |
Harold Spencer Jones (1890–1960) | 1933–55 |
Richard Woolley (1906–86) | 1956–71 |
Martin Ryle (1918–84) | 1972–82 |
Francis Graham-Smith (1923– ) | 1982–90 |
Arnold Whittaker Wolfendale (1927–2020) | 1991–94 |
Martin John Rees (1942– ) | 1995– |