Letter from Stephen Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, to William Ritchie
A letter from Stephen Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, to William Ritchie, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Institution, dated 10 June 1831. Rigaud asks that the editor of the Jounal of the Royal Institution corrects a statement relating to the eleged episode in the history of the books and manuscripts of Thomas Harriot (1560–1621), mathematician and natural philosopher. He ascertains that these 'are not and never were deposited in any of our [Oxford] libraries'. He goes on to say 'They were sent some forty years ago to Oxford, but upon examination they were found infit for publication and were then returned to the E[rl] of Egremont in whose possession they now remain'. He refers to the Oxford University Press episode as described in an electronic resource devoted to Thomas Harriot: http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/content/scientific_revolution/harriot. There is also much later biographical note on Stephen Rigaurd written in French.
(fols. 17-18) Stephen Rigaud's letter written at the 'Oxford Observatory', 10 June 1831.
(fols. 19-21) biographical note on Stephen Rigaud (in French), n.d.
Dates
- Creation: 10 June 1831, n.d.
Extent
5 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 7963, fol. 17].
Shelfmark:
MS. Eng. c. 7963, fols. 17-21
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 9650
Abstract
Letter from Stephen Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, to William Ritchie, 10 June 1831, with related notes, n.d.
Biographical / Historical
Stephen Rigaud became a fellow of Exeter College, Oxford while still an undergraduate there. He then held the position of Saville Chair of Geometry from 1810 to 1827 and became Saville Professor of Astronomy in 1827. His publications make him the foremost science historian of his generation. Biographical details for both, Rigaud and Ritchie, can be found in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Adam Jared Apt, 23 Apr. 2014.
Subject
- Title
- Letter from Stephen Rigaud, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, to William Ritchie, 10 June 1831, n.d.
- Status
- Published
- Date
- EAD version 2019
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
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