Nathaniel Bliss - Revision history

imported>3602kiva: updating hyphen to endash

2025-09-16T15:22:10Z

updating hyphen to endash

← Previous revision		Revision as of 15:22, 16 September 2025
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	\| work_institutions = [[Oxford University]]		\| work_institutions = [[Oxford University]]
	\| prizes =		\| prizes =
			\| module = {{Infobox officeholder\|embed=yes
			\| title1 = [[Astronomer Royal]]
			\| order1 = 4th
			\| term_start1 = 1762
			\| term_end1 = 1764
			\| predecessor1 = [[James Bradley]]
			\| successor1 = [[Nevil Maskelyne]]
			}}
	}}		}}

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	==Observations==		==Observations==
	George Parker, the Earl of Macclesfield, had established an observatory at [[Shirburn Castle]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made [[Meridian (astronomy)\|meridian]] observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url = http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/15557.html\|title = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss (~~1700-1764~~) - Royal Museums Greenwich}}</ref> Bliss worked alongside James Bradley at the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Royal Observatory]] in Greenwich and in June 1761, owing to the poor health of Bradley, he undertook the observations for the [[transit of Venus]].		George Parker, the Earl of Macclesfield, had established an observatory at [[Shirburn Castle]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made [[Meridian (astronomy)\|meridian]] observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url = http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/15557.html\|title = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss (1700–1764) - Royal Museums Greenwich}}</ref> Bliss worked alongside James Bradley at the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Royal Observatory]] in Greenwich and in June 1761, owing to the poor health of Bradley, he undertook the observations for the [[transit of Venus]].

	His assistant at the Royal Observatory was [[Charles Green (astronomer)\|Charles Green]], and upon his death, Green continued Bliss' work until the appointment of the next Astronomer Royal. In April 1764 Bliss made observations of an [[Solar eclipse\|annular (solar) eclipse]] visible from Greenwich. Many of the observations made by Bliss were considered potentially useful for solving the [[History of longitude\|longitude problem]], important for cartography and ocean navigation, and were therefore bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] from his widow Elizabeth Bliss (née Hillman). His Greenwich observations were not published until 1805, when they were included as a supplement in an edition by [[Thomas Hornsby]] on the observations of Bradley.<ref>{{cite book		His assistant at the Royal Observatory was [[Charles Green (astronomer)\|Charles Green]], and upon his death, Green continued Bliss's work until the appointment of the next Astronomer Royal. In April 1764 Bliss made observations of an [[Solar eclipse\|annular (solar) eclipse]] visible from Greenwich. Many of the observations made by Bliss were considered potentially useful for solving the [[History of longitude\|longitude problem]], important for cartography and ocean navigation, and were therefore bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] from his widow Elizabeth Bliss (née Hillman). His Greenwich observations were not published until 1805, when they were included as a supplement in an edition by [[Thomas Hornsby]] on the observations of Bradley.<ref>{{cite book
	\| first=Edward Walter \| last=Maunder \| year=1900		\| first=Edward Walter \| last=Maunder \| year=1900
	\| title=The Royal observatory, Greenwich: A glance at its history and work		\| title=The Royal observatory, Greenwich: A glance at its history and work

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Observations: Added comma

← Previous revision		Revision as of 18:22, 15 June 2025
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	George Parker, the Earl of Macclesfield, had established an observatory at [[Shirburn Castle]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made [[Meridian (astronomy)\|meridian]] observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url = http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/15557.html\|title = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss (1700-1764) - Royal Museums Greenwich}}</ref> Bliss worked alongside James Bradley at the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Royal Observatory]] in Greenwich and in June 1761, owing to the poor health of Bradley, he undertook the observations for the [[transit of Venus]].		George Parker, the Earl of Macclesfield, had established an observatory at [[Shirburn Castle]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made [[Meridian (astronomy)\|meridian]] observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url = http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/15557.html\|title = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss (1700-1764) - Royal Museums Greenwich}}</ref> Bliss worked alongside James Bradley at the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich\|Royal Observatory]] in Greenwich and in June 1761, owing to the poor health of Bradley, he undertook the observations for the [[transit of Venus]].

	His assistant at the Royal Observatory was [[Charles Green (astronomer)\|Charles Green]], and upon his death, Green continued Bliss' work until the appointment of the next Astronomer Royal. In April 1764 Bliss made observations of an [[Solar eclipse\|annular (solar) eclipse]] visible from Greenwich. Many of the observations made by Bliss were considered potentially useful for solving the [[History of longitude\|longitude problem]], important for cartography and ocean navigation, and were therefore bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] from his widow Elizabeth Bliss (née Hillman). His Greenwich observations were not published until 1805 when they were included as a supplement in an edition by [[Thomas Hornsby]] on the observations of Bradley.<ref>{{cite book		His assistant at the Royal Observatory was [[Charles Green (astronomer)\|Charles Green]], and upon his death, Green continued Bliss' work until the appointment of the next Astronomer Royal. In April 1764 Bliss made observations of an [[Solar eclipse\|annular (solar) eclipse]] visible from Greenwich. Many of the observations made by Bliss were considered potentially useful for solving the [[History of longitude\|longitude problem]], important for cartography and ocean navigation, and were therefore bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] from his widow Elizabeth Bliss (née Hillman). His Greenwich observations were not published until 1805, when they were included as a supplement in an edition by [[Thomas Hornsby]] on the observations of Bradley.<ref>{{cite book
	\| first=Edward Walter \| last=Maunder \| year=1900		\| first=Edward Walter \| last=Maunder \| year=1900
	\| title=The Royal observatory, Greenwich: A glance at its history and work		\| title=The Royal observatory, Greenwich: A glance at its history and work

imported>Smasongarrison: Moving from Category:18th-century British astronomers to Category:18th-century English astronomers Diffusing per WP:DIFFUSE and/or WP:ALLINCLUDED using Cat-a-lot

2024-12-07T02:21:31Z

Moving from Category:18th-century British astronomers to Category:18th-century English astronomers Diffusing per WP:DIFFUSE and/or WP:ALLINCLUDED using Cat-a-lot

New page

{{Short description|English astronomer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Nathaniel Bliss
| image = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| caption = Reverend Nathaniel Bliss
| birth_date = {{birth date|1700|11|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bisley, Gloucestershire|Bisley]], [[Gloucestershire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1764|09|02|1700|11|28|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Oxford]], [[Oxfordshire]], England
| resting_place = [[St Margaret's, Lee|St. Margaret's]], [[Lee, London|Lee, South London]]
| nationality = [[English people|English]]
| alma_mater =
| doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_students =
| known_for =
| influences =
| influenced =
| signature =
| footnotes =
| honorific_prefix = The Reverend
| field = [[Astronomy]], [[mathematics]]
| work_institutions = [[Oxford University]]
| prizes =
}}

'''Nathaniel Bliss''' (28 November 1700 – 2 September 1764) was an [[England|English]] [[astronomer]] of the 18th century, serving as Britain's fourth [[Astronomer Royal]] between 1762 and 1764.

Bliss studied at [[Oxford University]] and later became the [[Savilian Professor of Geometry]]. He made important meridian observations of a [[comet]] and a [[solar eclipse]] visible from [[Greenwich]], and many of his observations proved useful in solving the [[History of longitude|longitude problem]], and were bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] after his death.

==Life==
Nathaniel Bliss was born in the [[Cotswolds]] village of [[Bisley, Gloucestershire|Bisley]] in [[Gloucestershire]]. His father, also named Nathaniel Bliss, was a [[Cloth merchant|clothier]]. Bliss studied at [[Pembroke College, Oxford]]. He graduated [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in 1720 and [[Master's degree|M.A.]] in 1723, and married shortly afterwards.{{sfn|Clerke|1886}}

In 1736, Bliss became rector of [[St Ebbe's Church, Oxford|St Ebbe's Church]] in [[Oxford]]. Supported by, among others; the [[George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield|2nd Earl of Macclesfield (George Parker)]], [[Savilian Professor of Astronomy]] [[James Bradley]] and by [[William Jones (mathematician)|William Jones]], Bliss succeeded [[Edmond Halley]] as [[Savilian Professor of Geometry]] at [[Oxford University]] in February 1742 – being elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Society]] in May the same year. As Savilian Professor he lectured courses in arithmetic, algebra, plane and spherical geometry, the use of logarithms and surveying instruments.

In 1762 he succeeded Bradley to become the fourth Astronomer Royal, but held the post for only two years before his unexpected death.
He died in Oxford, but was buried close to Edmond Halley in [[St Margaret's, Lee|St Margaret's]] churchyard in [[Lee, London|Lee]] in south-east [[London]]. As men of independent means, the first four Astronomers Royal including Bliss, were paid only a minimal salary. This situation changed when [[Nevil Maskelyne]] succeeded Bliss as Astronomer Royal upon his death – Maskelyne commanded a salary of £350 per annum, permitting him to make the post his main occupation. In 2000 the [[International Astronomical Union]] named a [[Bliss (crater)|crater on the Moon after Bliss]], in commemoration of his position as Astronomer Royal.

==Observations==
George Parker, the Earl of Macclesfield, had established an observatory at [[Shirburn Castle]] in [[Oxfordshire]]. Working for and with the Earl of Macclesfield, Bliss made [[Meridian (astronomy)|meridian]] observations of a comet approaching the Sun in 1744 at Shirburn Castle and at [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich|Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/15557.html|title = The Reverend Nathaniel Bliss (1700-1764) - Royal Museums Greenwich}}</ref> Bliss worked alongside James Bradley at the [[Royal Observatory, Greenwich|Royal Observatory]] in Greenwich and in June 1761, owing to the poor health of Bradley, he undertook the observations for the [[transit of Venus]].

His assistant at the Royal Observatory was [[Charles Green (astronomer)|Charles Green]], and upon his death, Green continued Bliss' work until the appointment of the next Astronomer Royal. In April 1764 Bliss made observations of an [[Solar eclipse|annular (solar) eclipse]] visible from Greenwich. Many of the observations made by Bliss were considered potentially useful for solving the [[History of longitude|longitude problem]], important for cartography and ocean navigation, and were therefore bought by the [[Board of Longitude]] from his widow Elizabeth Bliss (née Hillman). His Greenwich observations were not published until 1805 when they were included as a supplement in an edition by [[Thomas Hornsby]] on the observations of Bradley.<ref>{{cite book
| first=Edward Walter | last=Maunder | year=1900
| title=The Royal observatory, Greenwich: A glance at its history and work
| publisher=The Religious tract society | page=[https://archive.org/details/royalobservator00maungoog/page/n88 85]
| url=https://archive.org/details/royalobservator00maungoog
| access-date=2010-02-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Bliss_Nathaniel.html|title = Nathaniel Bliss|work=[[MacTutor History of Mathematics archive]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
;Attribution
{{Cite DNB|first=Agnes Mary|last=Clerke|wstitle=Bliss, Nathaniel |volume=5 |pages=220–221}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | author = Maunder, E. W. | title = The Royal Observatory, Greenwich: A Glance at its History and Work | year = 1900 | publisher = The Religious Tract Society | location = London | url = https://archive.org/details/royalobservator00maungoog| page = [https://archive.org/details/royalobservator00maungoog/page/n85 82] | quote = Nathaniel Bliss astronomers. }}

==External links==
* [http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0180%2FRGO%203 Online catalogue of Bliss' working papers (part of the Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives held at Cambridge University Library)]

{{Savilian Professors of Geometry}}
{{Astronomers Royal}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss, Nathaniel}}
[[Category:1700 births]]
[[Category:1764 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century English astronomers]]
[[Category:18th-century English mathematicians]]
[[Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Astronomers Royal]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:People from Bisley, Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Savilian Professors of Geometry]]
[[Category:18th-century English Anglican priests]]