Richard Sheepshanks

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Richard Sheepshanks (30 July 1794, in Leeds – 4 August 1855, in Reading) was a British astronomer.[1]

Personal life

He was born the son of Joseph Sheepshanks, a Leeds textile manufacturer of the well-to-do Sheepshank family of Bilton, Harrogate. His brother was John Sheepshanks (clothing manufacturer and art collector), and his sister was Anne Sheepshanks (astronomical benefactor). He received his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1816.[2] He was called to the bar in 1824 and took orders in Church of England in 1825, but did not practise either profession as the death of his father left him with sufficient wealth to pursue his scientific interests. He had six children from a relationship with an Irish dancer,[3] one of whom was Eleanor Louisa Moravia Henry, also known as Nelly,[4] mother of the painter Walter Sickert and the feminist Helena Swanwick. Sheepshanks gave financial support to the dancer and her husband, who in turn claimed paternity.[5] In later life, he and his sister lived in Reading in Berkshire.

Professional life

From 1817 until his death Sheepshanks was a fellow of

Analytical Engine. The two men publicly criticized each other.[7][8]

Death and legacy

He suffered a

stroke ("apoplexy") on 29 July 1855, died on 4 August, and was buried at Trinity College. There is a memorial notice at St John's Church, Bilton in Harrogate.[9] After his death, Richard's sister Anne Sheepshanks contributed a legacy towards research to be conducted by the Cambridge Observatory and a scholarship in her brother's name.[10]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Agnes Mary Clerke (1897). "Sheepshanks, Richard" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  2. ^ a b "Sheepshanks, Richard (SHPS811R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ISBN 978-0-19-817225-3
  4. ^ "English.Unitecnology.ac.nz". 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  5. ^ "FindArticles.com | CBSi". findarticles.com. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  6. ^ "Library and Archive catalog". Royal Society. Retrieved 28 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  7. ISBN 9780598020055
    . See particularly chapter 12, "Intrigues of Science."
  8. ^ Richard Sheepshanks (1854). A letter to the Board of Visitors of the Greenwich Royal Observatory, in reply to the calumnies of Mr. Babbage at their meeting in June 1853, and in his book entitled 'The Exposition of 1851'. London: G. Barclay.
  9. ^ "RootsWeb: ENG-YKS-HARROGATE-L [Harrogate] St John's Church, Bilton". archiver.rootsweb.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  10. ^ Society, Royal Astronomical (1 January 1877). Monthly Notices ...: Containing Papers, Abstracts of Papers, and Reports of the Proceedings of the Society.
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