View source for Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry

{{Refimprove|date=December 2009}}
The '''Lowndean chair of Astronomy and Geometry''' is one of the two major Professorships in [[Astronomy]] (alongside the [[Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy|Plumian Professorship]]) and a major Professorship in Mathematics at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]]. It was founded in 1749 by [[Thomas Lowndes (astronomer)|Thomas Lowndes]], an [[astronomer]] from [[Smallwood, Cheshire|Overton]] in [[Cheshire]].

The original bequest stated that the holder must give two courses of twenty lectures each year, one in astronomy, and the other in [[geometry]], and spend at least six weeks making astronomical observations.

Originally the holder was elected by a committee consisting of the [[Lord Chancellor]], the [[Lord President of the Council|Lord President of the Privy Council]], the [[Lord Privy Seal]], the [[Lord Steward of the Household]], and the Lord High Treasurer of the [[First Lord of the Treasury]].

By the 20th century, the electors had changed to comprise the most senior scientists in the United Kingdom: the [[Presidents of the Royal Society|President of the Royal Society]], the President of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]], the [[Astronomer Royal]], the [[Vice Chancellor]] of the [[University of Cambridge]], and the [[Lucasian Professor of Mathematics|Lucasian]], [[Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics|Sadleirian]], and [[Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy|Plumian]] Professors.

Notwithstanding the title, a professor can be chosen who specializes solely or chiefly in only one, rather than both, of the subjects of astronomy and geometry.<ref name="chap35" />

==Lowndean Professors==
* 1750–1771 [[Roger Long]]
* 1771–1795 [[John Smith (astronomer)|John Smith]]
* 1795–1837 [[William Lax]]
* 1837–1859 [[George Peacock (mathematician)|George Peacock]]
* 1859–1892 [[John Couch Adams]]
* 1892–1913 [[Robert Stawell Ball]]
* 1914–1936 [[H. F. Baker]]
* 1936–1970 [[W. V. D. Hodge]]
* 1970–1989 [[Frank Adams|J. Frank Adams]]
* 1990–1999 [[Graeme Segal]]
* 2000–2014 [[Burt Totaro]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=Elections and appointments |url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/1999-2000/weekly/5808/8.html |journal=[[Cambridge University Reporter]] |issue=5808 |date=4 May 2000 |access-date=5 September 2019}}</ref>
* 2015-present [[Mihalis Dafermos]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=Elections, appointments, reappointment, and grants of title |url=https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2015-16/weekly/6396/section2.shtml#heading2-13 |journal=[[Cambridge University Reporter]] |issue=6396 |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="chap35">{{cite book|title=Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge|chapter=The Lowndean Professorship of Astronomy and Geometry|chapter-url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/2008/chapter12-section2.html#heading3-24|at=Statute E, Chapter XXXV|url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/2008/statute_e-section35.html|access-date=2011-03-09}}</ref>

}}

[[Category:Professorships in mathematics|Astronomy and Geometry, Lowndean, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Professorships at the University of Cambridge|Astronomy and Geometry, Lowndean]]
[[Category:Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:1749 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Physics education in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Professorships in astronomy|Astronomy and Geometry, Lowndean, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Lowndean Professors of Astronomy and Geometry| ]]
[[Category:Mathematics education in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Astronomy in the United Kingdom]]