In life and in death – the changing fortunes of John Flamsteed

John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, was appointed in 1675 and remained in post until his death in 1719.

Over the years, his fortunes waxed and waned as different monarchs came and went. Originally regarded as a friend, Edmond Halley became a despised enemy, as did Isaac Newton. This was following their unauthorised publication of a an incomplete and corrupted version of his mural arc observations and catalogue of the fixed stars in what has become known as the pirated edition of the Historia – the Historiae Coelestis Libri Duo of 1712. 

With the help of his wife Margaret, and others, Flamsteed began the task of publishing an alternative volume over which he had full editorial control. Published posthumously in 1725 in three volumes under the title Historia Coelestis Britannica, it contained a catalogue of unprecedented accuracy of the positions of about 3,000 stars. It also contained the observations from which it…