This article is about the first Astronomer Royal of Ireland. For the medical doctor known for his Mexican border blaster broadcasts, see John R. Brinkley (See also John Brinkley (disambiguation))

John Brinkley (1763–September 14, 1835) was the first Astronomer Royal of Ireland and Bishop of Cloyne. Brinkley was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk. He died in Dublin, Ireland.

Brief biography

In 1792 John Brinkley became the first director of the Dublin observatory . His main work was on stellar astronomy and he published his Elements of Astronomy in 1819. He was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society in 1824.

Scientific error

Brinkley's observations that several stars shifted their apparent place in the sky in the course of a year were disproved at Greenwich by the Astronomer Royal John Pond.

Appointed Bishop

In 1826 he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in Cork.

Successor

James Brinkley was succeeded at Dublin observatory by William Rowan Hamilton.

References