In Search of William Gascoigne: Seventeenth Century Astronomer (Astrophysics and Space Science Library Book 390)

William Gascoigne (c.1612-44) was the inventor of the telescopic sight and micrometer (instruments crucial to the advance of astronomy). His name is now known to historians of science around the world. For some considerable time after his tragic death at the age of 32 in the English Civil War, however, it seemed as if his achievements would be consigned to oblivion. Most of his papers were lost and even the few that survived have largely disappeared. This is the story of how his work was rescued. Into this story is woven an account of the state of astronomy and optics during Gascoigne’s lifetime, so that the reader can appreciate the significance of his discoveries. Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-6 The Gascoignes of Thorp-on-the-Hill....Pages 7-13 The ‘Discovery’ of William Gascoigne....Pages 15-22 A ‘Light of the First Magnitude’....Pages 23-30 Derham and De La Hire....Pages 31-42 Bevis and De La Hire....Pages 43-48 In His Own Hand....Pages 49-58 Front Matter....Pages 59-59 The Religious World of William Gascoigne....Pages 61-68 The Optical World of William Gascoigne....Pages 69-82 The Astronomical World of William Gascoigne....Pages 83-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 The Flamsteed Papers....Pages 103-110 The Towneley Papers....Pages 111-116 British Library Manuscripts....Pages 117-125 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 The Road to Civil War....Pages 129-139 After Marston Moor....Pages 141-145 The Legacy of William Gascoigne....Pages 147-148 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Appendix 1 Description of Mr. Gascoigne’s Micrometer....Pages 151-152 Appendix 2 Selected Correspondence....Pages 153-215 Back Matter....Pages 219-222 William Gascoigne (c.1612-44), the first inventor of the telescopic sight and micrometer--instruments crucial to the advance of astronomy--was killed in the English Civil War. His name is now known to historians of science around the world, but for some considerable time after his tragic death at the age of 32, it seemed as if his achievements would be consigned to oblivion. Most of his papers were lost in the maelstrom of war and the few that seemed to have survived later disappeared. This is the story of how his work was rescued. Woven into that story is an account of the state of astronomy and optics during Gascoignes lifetime, so that the reader can appreciate the significance of his discoveries. A substantial appendix presents selected extracts from Gascoigne's correspondence. This includes much new material that has not been previously published and illustrates his efforts to explain the basis of his pioneering techniques to the satisfaction of his contemporaries Annotation This unique volume forestalls the scientific injustice that could have been inflicted on William Gascoigne. The captivating narrative tracks the gradual recovery of the 17th-century astronomer's trailblazing work on the telescopic sight and the micrometer