Francis Abbot circa 1844 Tasmanian Astronomer/clock makerr

[hotspur]

I have just been watching news,and a article came up about Francis Abbot,He was sent from England in the early 1800's to Australia,for obtaining 2 watches under false pretence.

He was a qualified clock maker,he did his "time" in 3 years,and "made good" his new life in Tasmania, Australia,apparently as a clock maker-one of his clocks is still working at a Hobart Town Hall.

He kept a journal of his clock making studies.This is what the news article was mainly about-the journal has turned up!,in it leather bound cover-all the information intact!

Of even more interest,was he was a astronomer!,from what the news report mentioned,he "ruffled a few feathers" with some of his observations on a star (a variable star?),Apparently various observations were proven correct,only after Hubble.

As mentioned this is how I heard the news article-is there anyone here with more information on this chap had his work in astronomy??And what instruments he used.

This about the time Sir Thomas Brisbane was Governor of Sydney-(approx 1820 of the top of my head)Brisbane came up and founded a new site for a township after that he went back to Scotland and built a observatory and continued his maths and astro work.

But this Abbot in Tasmania also contributed much work too,I'd like to hear more ,if anyone knows,please let us know!

I find it fascinating that people like Abbot,in a really remote place a long time ago,not only "made good",but contributed to science and astronomy in such away,that what they did still holds true and accurate and is still used as a reference tool by today's scientist.And no lap-tops,gotos,or dew zappers!

Chris

[acropolite]

Thanks for that Info Chris, I've googled and saved some links for later reading.:thumbsup:

[hotspur]

Could you post the links you found,Phil-Thanks C

[CraigS]

Hi Chris;

I find your post very interesting & I'd like to thank you for it.

It would seem that around the time Abbot was making his clocks in Tassie,, John Harrison, (1693 - 1776), the original marine 'clock maker', and one of my historical heros, was long dead.

Matthew Flinders however, was circumnavigating Australia (1802 -1803). Two of the original marine clocks Flinders used, are on display in the Sydney Observatory. I am not sure who made them, but these clocks would seem to be from the same time era as Abbot's. I haven't seen the clock in Tasmania but the ones in the Sydney observatory are pure works of art. I think they may be still operational, also.

Very interesting & thanks .. I look forward to those links, also.

Cheers & Rgds

[acropolite]

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/05/28/2257939.htm

http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A030002b.htm

heaps more just google Francis Abbott Tasmania.

Here's a link to an image of Francis Abbott (http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?id=607375)

[CraigS]

Oh no !!!
He's wearing a 'Fez' !!!

Cheers