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Francis Abbot circa 1844 Tasmanian Astronomer/clock makerr
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
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