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{{Short description|Australian astronomer and meteorologist}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
[[File:Portrait of Henry Chamberlaine Russell, (1836-1907), Astronomer and Meteorologist (2551070375) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Portrait of Henry Chamberlaine Russell ]]
'''Henry Chamberlain Russell''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|CMG|FRS}} (17 March 1836 – 22 February 1907) was an Australian [[astronomer]] and [[meteorologist]].

==Early life==
Russell was born at [[West Maitland]], [[New South Wales]], the fourth son of the Hon. [[Bourn Russell]] and his wife Jane, ''née'' Mackreth. Russell was educated at West Maitland Grammar school and the [[University of Sydney]], ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], 1859).<ref name=dab>{{Dictionary of Australian Biography |First=Henry Chamberlain |Last=Russell |shortlink=0-dict-biogR.html |accessdate=20 October 2016}}</ref><ref name=adb>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography
|last=Walsh
|first=G. P.
|year=1976
|id=A060085b
|title= Russell, Henry Chamberlain (1836–1907)
|accessdate=24 November 2009 }}</ref>

==Sydney Observatory==
Russell joined the staff of the [[Sydney Observatory]] under [[William Scott (astronomer and clergyman)|William Scott]] who resigned in 1862. Russell then became acting director until 1864 until the new government astronomer, [[George Smalley]], was appointed. On the death of Smalley on 11 July 1870<ref>
Harley Wood, '[http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060156b.htm Smalley, George Robarts (1822–1870)]', ''[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]'', Vol. 6, [[Melbourne University Press|MUP]], 1976, pp 136–137.</ref>
Russell became government astronomer a salary of £555<ref name=adb/> and held the position for 35 years. Russell immediately began reorganising and refurnishing the building, which he succeeded in getting considerably enlarged during the next seven years. With [[Robert L. J. Ellery]], Russell organised an expedition to observe a total eclipse of the sun to Cape Sidmouth in 1871.<ref name=adb/>
Russell prepared for the observation of the [[transit of Venus]] in 1874 for which four observing stations were equipped. Russell arranged for a band of competent observers to staff them, and the results were generally very successful; an interesting account of them was published by Russell in 1892, ''Observations of the Transit of Venus''.<ref name=dab/>

==Meteorology career==
Russell began to develop the meteorological side of his work, in 1877 he published a substantial volume, ''Climate of New South Wales: Descriptive, Historical and Tabular''. In this volume some attention is given to the question of weather periodicity, on which he had written a paper in 1876. In later years he gave a great deal of attention to it. At the beginning of Russell's appointment there were only 12 observing stations in [[New South Wales]], but before he resigned there were about 1800. There was little money for equipment, but Russell made use of available materials and designed a rain gauge which could be made at a cost of one-sixth of the imported gauges. Russell also invented various self-recording [[barometer]]s, [[thermometer]]s, [[anemometer]]s and [[rain gauge]]s. This reduced and made possible the work of his observers, almost all of whom gave their services voluntarily. In collaboration with [[Charles Todd (astronomer)|Sir Charles Todd]] of [[South Australia]], and [[Robert L. J. Ellery]] and [[Pietro Baracchi]] of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], weather reporting in Australia was co-ordinated until the daily weather forecasts showed a very high percentage of accuracy. The long series of ''Meteorological Observations made at the Government Observatory, Sydney'', published under Russell's direction contain an enormous mass of information relating to the climate of New South Wales.<ref name=dab/>

Russell was interested in the study of double stars and published in 1882 ''Results of Double Star Measures made at the Sydney Observatory 1871 to 1881''. He also gave a great deal of attention to the application of photography to astronomical work. In 1887 he attended the astrographic congress at Paris and arranged for the co-operation of the Sydney observatory. This involved the taking and measurement of 1400 photographic plates. Russell supervised the preparation of the portion of the [[Carte du Ciel|Astrographic Catalogue]] undertaken by the Sydney observatory until his retirement. In 1888 he was elected president of the newly formed [[Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science]] and in 1891 became vice-chancellor of the university of Sydney, but resigned within a year on account of the pressure of his other duties. By 1893 Russell had discovered 500 new [[double star]]s.<ref name=adb/> In 1903 Russell had a severe illness from which he never completely recovered. He had a year's leave of absence and resigned the position of government astronomer<ref name=adb/> in 1905. Russell died at the observatory on 22 February 1907. Russell was for some years president of the [[Royal Society of New South Wales]], was elected a fellow of the [[Royal Society]], London, in 1886, and was created C.M.G. in 1890. Russell contributed papers to various societies, many of which appeared in the ''Memoirs'' and ''Monthly Notices'' of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]]. Others papers will be found in the ''Journal and Proceedings'' of the Royal Society of New South Wales, and other journals. He also took an important part in the initiation of technical education in New South Wales.<ref name=dab/><ref name=adb/>

==Family==
Russell married Emily Jane, daughter of [[Ambrose Foss]]. She survived him with a son and four daughters.<ref name=dab/><ref>Una Stella Haslingden Russell (b. 1871 at Goulbourn), the wife of [[John William Downer]] and subsequently of D'Arcy Wentworth Addisons. Henry Edward Russell is not related notwithstanding the report in the article 'Interesting Weddings' ({{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123226399 |title=Interesting Weddings. |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Sydney, Australia)|Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 – 1930)]] |location=Sydney, NSW |date=2 March 1919 |accessdate=3 February 2016 |page=2 |publisher=[[National Library of Australia]]}}. Her parents being Henry Edward Russell and Frances Emily Russell née Robey ({{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101472669 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=[[Goulburn Herald|The Goulburn Herald And Chronicle]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=8 June 1870 |accessdate=7 June 2016 |page=2 }})</ref>

==Legacy==
Russell was a conscientious and enthusiastic worker; his hours of attendance at the observatory were commonly from nine in the morning until midnight. He was an excellent mechanic and was responsible for many inventions which proved to be of great value in relation with his work. His theory of a 19 years cycle in weather periodicity could not be proved on the information available, and the same may be said of the 33 years cycle of Charles Egeson, an assistant of Russell's at the observatory. Russell's paper on the [[Darling River]] read in 1879, suggesting that vast supplies of water must be flowing at a lower level was a very interesting prediction considering that artesian water was practically unknown at the time. The great value of Russell's efforts lies in the mass of tabulated work done by him or under his direction in astronomy and especially meteorology, which has been a mine of information for all workers in the subjects.<ref name=dab/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Henry Chamberlain}}
[[Category:1836 births]]
[[Category:1907 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Australian astronomers]]
[[Category:Colony of New South Wales people]]
[[Category:Australian meteorologists]]
[[Category:Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:People from Maitland, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Vice-chancellors of the University of Sydney]]
[[Category:19th-century Australian male writers]]

Henry Chamberlain Russell - Revision history

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