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Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801 - 1892)
Astronomer Royal at the time of the Craig Telescope. There is no reference suggesting that he paid any attention to this telescope, its construction or attempted use, even though he was seeking those skilled in making large aperture object lenses.
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Alley, Anne Jane (died 1834)
First wife of Rev. John Craig. She married John Craig while still resident in Ireland. She bore him his only son, Robert.
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Babbage, Charles (1791 - 1871)
Professor of mathematics at Cambridge University. Builder of the "analytical engine", the predecessor of the digital computer. Trusted friend of William Gravatt.
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Beard, Richard (1802 - 1885)
Respected portrait photographer. Took the daguerreotype of the telescope just before its completion from which the engraving was made in the Illustrated London News in 1852.
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Bevington,
Geoffrey (1838 - 1872)
Skilled amateur victorian photographer. Living only a short distance from the Wandsworth Common he captured a detailed image of telescope after it had fallen into disuse in 1855/6.
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Brewster,
Sir David (1781 - 1868)
A child prodigy who went to Edinburgh University at the age of 12. He taught himself to be philosopher, astronomer and mathematician. He re-invented the kaleidoscope. In 1831 he was knighted for his services to science.
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Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806 - 1859)
Pioneering engineer and lifelong friend of William Gravatt, his senior engineer on the Thames Tunnel Crossing.
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Brunel, Mark (1769 - 1849)
Pioneer builder. Employed Gravatt as Chief Assistant on the Thames Tunnel Crossing Project.
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Buckmaster, John (dates not known)
Instrumental in returning Wandsworth Common back to its original state.
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Chance, Robert Lucas (1782 - 1865)
Glass manufacturer. It was hiscompany that produced one of the glass blanks for the Craig Telescope.
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Craig, Rev. John (1805 - 1877)
Vicar of All Saints church, Leamington Spa.
It was his idea to build and finance the telescope erected on Wandsworth Common.
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Craig, Robert Rutledge (1814 - 1856)
Rev. John Craig's brother, Attorney General in British Guiana. Helped John Craig financially. |
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Craig, Robert (died 1826)
John Craig's father |
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Craig, Robert (1832 - 1852)
John Craig's only son. Naval cadet on HMS Sampson. |
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Davidson, Isabella (dates not known)
Rev. John Craig's mother |
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Diamond, Dr Hugh Welch (1809 - 1886)
Physician at the Surrey County Asylum. Accomplished photographer. Gave photographic assistance at the telescope and took an image of the instrument shortly after it had been completed.
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Dick, Rev Dr Thomas (1774 - 1857)
Scottish church minister, science teacher and writer, known for his works on astronomy and practical philosophy. Lectuered in Leamington about the Craig Telescope.
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Donkin, Bryan (1768 - 1855)
English engineer and inventor. Developed first mechanized process for making paper. Gravatt's first employer. Member of Royal Society.
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Downes, Rev Robert (died 1859)
Vicar of All Saints church, Leamington. Went to Fetcham, exchanging parishes with Rev. John Craig in 1839.
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Goodford, Henry (dates not known)
Lord Spencer's advisor. Helped in the negotiations for the plot on which Craig Telescope stood. |
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Gravatt, William (1806 - 1881)
Superintended projects for both Marc and Isambard Brunel, especially remembered for the part he played in the construction of the Thames Tunnel Crossing. His skills were employed by Craig to design the telescope.
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Hartnup, John Chapman (1806 - 1885)
Mr John Hartnup, who was Assistant Secretary to the Royal Astronomical Society, was appointed as the first Director of Liverpool Observatory in 1843. Good friend of William Gravatt.
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Johnstone, Jane Helena (1806 - 1854)
Youngest daughter of the Rev. James Johnstone. John Craig's second wife, she had a personal fortune of £56,000.
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Lassell, William (1799 - 1880)
Brewer and discoverer of several moons including Triton. Assisted Craig in attempting to solve his undercorrected optics.
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Lee, Charles (born 1805)
Solicitor. Communicated Craig's wishes regarding the telescope to Lord Spencer's adviser, Mr Goodford. |
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Lee, Dr John (1783 - 1866)
The owner of Hartwell House and an eminent patron of astronomy and founder of the Royal Meteorological Society. Member of Royal Society. He may have been the connection between Gravatt and Craig.
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Mitchell, Francis Henry (born 1824)
Helped John Craig financially. |
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Parsons, William (1800 - 1867)
Irish nobleman. Built world's largest telescope at Birr Castle 1844. Gave Craig suggestions on correcting the optics of the telescope.
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Prout, Victor Albert (1836 - 1877)
British photographer active in the 1860s, specialising in pictures of high society. Surviving images by him are albumen prints made from wet plate negatives. Gave assistance to Rev. Reade at the Craig Telescope.
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Ransome (dates not known)
Petitioner. Active in returning Wandsworth to its original state. |
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Reade, Rev Joseph Bancroft (1801 - 1870)
Reade, whose name is given in some accounts as having introduced both hypo and gallic acid, also learnt of them from Herschel. Gave assistance, especially photographic, to the telescope project.
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Rennie, George (1791 - 1866)
A consultant in construction of the foundations of London's Grosvenor Bridge 1832. Builder of telescope's tube at Wandsworth.
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Ross, Andrew (1798 - 1859)
Lens maker. English lens maker Andrew Ross began producing achromats according to Lister's design, by combining two lenses of different types of glass. May have been approached by Craig for a lens.
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Sargent, G F (dates not known)
Architectural artist. Sketched the telescope soon after it was completed. |
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Simms, William (1793 - 1860)
British instrument maker. Lens maker. Commissioned by the Royal Observatory to construct large telescope lenses. Well known to the Rennie brothers.
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Slater, Thomas (1817 - 1889)
Lived in Euston, London and was the lens maker responsible for grinding and figuring the 24-inch object lens for the telescope.
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Spencer, 4th Earl, Frederick (1798 - 1857)
Donated the land in Wandsworth on which Craig's observatory was built.
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Stilwell, James Robert (1841 - 1893)
The farrier that purchased the rail iron work during the Craig Telescope's demolition.
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Troughton, Edward (1753 - 1836)
British instrument maker, who was notable for making telescopes and other astronomical instruments. Lifelong friend of William Gravatt.
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Turner, (dates not known)
The school teacher at Fetcham during Craig's time there as vicar. |
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Webb, Rev. Thomas William (1807 – 1885)
Wrote the classic astronomical observing guide 'Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes' in 1859. Visited the telescope at Wandsworth Common on 28th Oct 1852 to specifically observed Saturn.
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Wilson, William (1772 - 1860)
Founder of Price's Patent Candles Ltd, today the largest candle manufacturer in the UK. Helped Craig to gain access to 4th Earl Spencer.
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Wollaston, William Hyde (1766 - 1828)
Solar Spectroscopy. Wollaston is remembered for his outstanding achievement of preparing platinum in a malleable form. Some of Wollaston's most important work was in crystallography. Lifelong friend of William Gravatt.
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