Royal Astronomers

This is a position that has been held by many influential astronomers.  The position was created in 1675 by King Charles II when the Royal Observatory was founded.  Until 1971 the Astronomer Royal was also Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, the the post has since be separated.

The first astronomer to hold the post was John Flamsteed.  He was the Astronomer Royal from 1975 to 1719.  Other astronomers who have held the post include:

Edmond Halley from 1720 to 1742

James Bradley from 1742 to 1762

Nathaniel Bliss from 1762 to 1764

Nevil Maskelyne 1765 - 1811

John Pond 1811 - 1835

George B Airy 1835 - 1881

William H M Christie 1881 - 1910

Frank W Dyson 1910-1933

Harold Spencer Jones 1933-1955

Richard Woolley 1956 - 1971

Martin Ryle 1972-1982

Francis Graham-Smith 1982-1990

Arnold Wolfendale 1991-1994

Sir Martin Rees is the current holder of the post since 1995