SIR SIR JOSEPH JOSEPH

NORMAN LOCKYERNORMAN LOCKYER      

SIR JOSEPH NORMAN LOCKYER

BORN 17 MAY 1836 – DIED 16 AUGUST 1920

KNOWN SIMPLY AS NORMAN LOCKYER,

HE WAS AN ENGLISH SCIENTIST AND ASTRONOMER.

ALONG WITH THE FRENCH SCIENTIST HE ISCREDITED WITH DISCOVERING THE GAS HELIUM.

   

IntroductionIntroduction

When I first started to think about this projectWhen I first started to think about this project

I did not know who to study as there is so many I did not know who to study as there is so many

famous historical people. famous historical people.

I looked on the Internet using Google and saw lots I looked on the Internet using Google and saw lots

of kings and queens. I asked my great aunt Diane of kings and queens. I asked my great aunt Diane

if she knew anyone famous I could study…..then if she knew anyone famous I could study…..then

she told me about my she told me about my

great, great grandfather.great, great grandfather.

Facts Facts Lockyer was born in Lockyer was born in Rugby, Warwickshire. He travelled in . He travelled in

Switzerland and France, he worked for some years as a civil Switzerland and France, he worked for some years as a civil servant in the British War office. servant in the British War office.

   He settled in Wimbledon, South London after marrying Winifred He settled in Wimbledon, South London after marrying Winifred

James. James.

A keen amateur astronomer with a A keen amateur astronomer with a particular interest in the Sun, Lockyer particular interest in the Sun, Lockyer eventually became eventually became

Director of the Solar Physics Observatory Director of the Solar Physics Observatory in Kensington London.in Kensington London.

My grandfather was named Warwick Little.My grandfather was named Warwick Little.  

His HomeHis Home One of the more esoteric aspects of

Rugby’s heritage must surely be its blue plaques marking buildings of interest. The older ones in particular have generally been forced by circumstance to be placed well above the normal sight lines of passers by and at a height that renders their print difficult to read. One such plaque may be observed by the keen-sighted on the wall of number 25 Sheep Street, which currently houses the HFC Bank, adjacent to The Three Horse Shoes hotel:

This plaque bears the legend: This plaque bears the legend: In Commemoration of In Commemoration of

SIR NORMAN LOCKYER SIR NORMAN LOCKYER KCB FRS KCB FRS The Astronomer The Astronomer Born in this houseBorn in this houseMay 16th 1836May 16th 1836Died August 20th 1920Died August 20th 1920

His works mainly involved the Sun and it His works mainly involved the Sun and it was in this study that he investigated was in this study that he investigated sunspots and solar prominences sunspots and solar prominences discovering in 1868 with Pierre Janssen. It discovering in 1868 with Pierre Janssen. It was in this investigation that he made his was in this investigation that he made his most important discovery. He was able to most important discovery. He was able to successfully identify the spectral line then successfully identify the spectral line then to be an unknown element observed by to be an unknown element observed by Janssen in the year 1868 and proposed to Janssen in the year 1868 and proposed to name it helium, from the Greek word name it helium, from the Greek word helios, meaning Sun. helios, meaning Sun.

His WorkHis Work

His WorkHis Work HeliumHelium (He) is the second most common (He) is the second most common element in the universe after Hydrogen.element in the universe after Hydrogen.

The name helium came from the Greek word for the sun, The name helium came from the Greek word for the sun, helios.helios.

Lockyer was later Lockyer was later knightedknighted for this discovery. for this discovery.  

In 1897 Lockyer was given the order of `knight commander of the In 1897 Lockyer was given the order of `knight commander of the Bath' for his discovery of Bath' for his discovery of Helium in 1868, he became in 1868, he became

Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer KCBSir Joseph Norman Lockyer KCB  

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/helium.html

Writing & ExpeditionsWriting & Expeditions Lockyer published his first classic of what’s been Lockyer published his first classic of what’s been

called the astro-archaeology, The Dawn of called the astro-archaeology, The Dawn of Astronomy and in 1906 he produced another Astronomy and in 1906 he produced another work entitled Stonehenge and Other British work entitled Stonehenge and Other British Monuments Astronomically Considered. He aimed Monuments Astronomically Considered. He aimed to establish the fact that many ancient to establish the fact that many ancient monuments were astronomically aligned. He was monuments were astronomically aligned. He was passionate about his works, paying regular trips passionate about his works, paying regular trips to Egypt, Greece, the Stranding to Egypt, Greece, the Stranding

Stones of Britain and led several Stones of Britain and led several solar eclipse expeditions, few of solar eclipse expeditions, few of which includes the expedition to which includes the expedition to Sicily (year 1870) and India Sicily (year 1870) and India (years 1871 and 1898). (years 1871 and 1898).

The London Science MuseumThe London Science Museum Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of a new range of buildings in 1899.Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of a new range of buildings in 1899. She She

also directed that in future the Museum should be renamed 'The Victoria and also directed that in future the Museum should be renamed 'The Victoria and Albert Museum' and this title, somewhat confusingly to us now, also applied to Albert Museum' and this title, somewhat confusingly to us now, also applied to the Science Collections. In 1909, when the new buildings were opened, the title the Science Collections. In 1909, when the new buildings were opened, the title was confined to the Art Collections. The Science and Engineering Collections was confined to the Art Collections. The Science and Engineering Collections were finally separated administratively and the name 'Science Museum', in were finally separated administratively and the name 'Science Museum', in informal use since 1885, was officially adopted. informal use since 1885, was officially adopted.

It was on June 26th that year that the institutional reorganisation into two It was on June 26th that year that the institutional reorganisation into two independent institutions was ratified and the title "Science Museum" was independent institutions was ratified and the title "Science Museum" was officially bestowed. officially bestowed. This was largely down to the brilliance of Norman LockyerThis was largely down to the brilliance of Norman Lockyer, , the founder-editor of the journal Nature and to senior civil servant Robert the founder-editor of the journal Nature and to senior civil servant Robert Morant. Lockyer's association with the collections since the 1876 Loan exhibition Morant. Lockyer's association with the collections since the 1876 Loan exhibition and persistent lobbying on the museum's behalf qualifies him to be described as and persistent lobbying on the museum's behalf qualifies him to be described as the founder of the museum while Morant engineered the separation from the the founder of the museum while Morant engineered the separation from the Victoria and Albert Museum.Victoria and Albert Museum.

The London Science MuseumThe London Science Museum Throughout the late 1800s and first decade of Throughout the late 1800s and first decade of

the the 1900s Lockyer argued for the importance of 1900s Lockyer argued for the importance of a museum distinctively dedicated to Science.a museum distinctively dedicated to Science. As As early as 1876 he had ploughed ahead with early as 1876 he had ploughed ahead with assembling thousands of scientific instruments, assembling thousands of scientific instruments, objects and articles in South Kensington and objects and articles in South Kensington and these were subsequently incorporated in The these were subsequently incorporated in The South Kensington Museum, which had originally South Kensington Museum, which had originally been founded to promote industry but whose art been founded to promote industry but whose art collections were in their turn increasingly collections were in their turn increasingly oriented towards art rather than industry.oriented towards art rather than industry.

FellowshipsFellowships

Aerial Photographs over London Aerial Photographs over London

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057093/Google-Earth-view-London--circa-1909.html

Norman Lockyer Observatory

After his retirement in 1911, Lockyer established After his retirement in 1911, Lockyer established an observatory near his home in Salcombe Regis an observatory near his home in Salcombe Regis near Sidmouth, Devon. near Sidmouth, Devon.

Originally known as the Originally known as the Hill ObservatoryHill Observatory, , the site was renamed the Norman Lockyer the site was renamed the Norman Lockyer Observatory after his death. Observatory after his death.

For a time the observatory was a part of the For a time the observatory was a part of the University of Exeter, but is now owned by the University of Exeter, but is now owned by the East Devon District Council, and run by the East Devon District Council, and run by the Norman Lockyer Observatory Society.Norman Lockyer Observatory Society.

WebsitesWebsiteshttp://www.search.windowsonwarwickshire.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?resource=6964  http://www.abebooks.co.uk/Science-Controversy-Biography-Sir-Norman-Lockyer/3789492523/bd

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about_us/about_the_museum/history.aspx?page=2

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7224/full/456875a.html

http://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/nov03.shtmlhttp://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/nov03.shtml

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/east-devon-life/east-devon-holiday-guide/http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/east-devon-life/east-devon-holiday-guide/norman_lockyer_observatory_1_214448norman_lockyer_observatory_1_214448

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/helium.htmlhttp://www.chemicool.com/elements/helium.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057093/Google-Earth-view-London--circa-1909.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057093/Google-Earth-view-London--circa-1909.html

http://www.rugbytown.co.uk/p/Sir-Norman-Lockyer.htmlhttp://www.rugbytown.co.uk/p/Sir-Norman-Lockyer.html

http://planetfacts.org/sir-joseph-norman-lockyer/http://planetfacts.org/sir-joseph-norman-lockyer/

Yahoo/mail email to my great great uncle in AustraliaYahoo/mail email to my great great uncle in Australia    

To be continued…To be continued…

Family TreeFamily Tree Family PhotographsFamily Photographs emailsemails

SIR SIR JOSEPH JOSEPH NORMAN NORMAN LOCKYERLOCKYER

My Great My Great Great GrandfatherGreat Grandfather

By SophieBy Sophie