Life of James Ferguson, F. R. S.: In a Brief Autobiographical Account, and Further Extended MemoirJames Ferguson (1710-1776) was a Scottish self-taught astronomer, instrument maker and artist. Of humble background, he became a highly successful lecturer on experimental philosophy and science. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1763, received a royal pension, and is particularly remembered as an inventor and improver of astronomical and other scientific apparatus. These include a new type of orrery, clocks, and his astronomical rotula. His lectures and books were noted for their clear explanations for a general audience, and Astronomy Explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles and Made Easy for Those Who Have Not Studied Mathematics (1756) was a bestseller. This autobiographical memoir, expanded by Ebenezer Henderson in 1867, also contains a full description of Ferguson's principal inventions, with many illustrations. |
Contents
Fergusons Preliminary remarks Birth Mistakes the locality of | 1 |
Gordons Geographical Grammar Cantley leaves the Service of Squire | 20 |
At Durn Sir James DunbarGlobe Clock Maps c Clock Cleaning | 26 |
Lady Dipple takes Ferguson to Edinburgh giving him bed and board | 34 |
At Inverness for eight months taking Likenesses Ferguson Compares | 40 |
Professor Maclaurin gets Ferguson to Deliver a Lecture on the Wooden | 43 |
Published a Treatise entitled A Dissertation on the Phenomena of | 50 |
The Improved Celestial Globe A Dissertation upon the Phenomena | 107 |
In Memoriam Lectures on Select Subjects published The Armillary | 246 |
In the Service of Alexander Middleton as Shepherd Boy Began to Study | 258 |
Royal Pension to Ferguson Planetarium Astronomical Lectures | 263 |
Remarks Ferguson Applies for the Vacant Situation of Clerk to | 271 |
A New Crane invented by Ferguson Paper on the Great Solar Eclipse | 303 |
On the Quantity and Weight of Water in Pumps Table of Standard | 313 |
New Orrery Claudins Epigrammatic Lines on ArchimedessSphere | 320 |
Bath and Bristol Lectures Newspaper Advertisements Supplement | 338 |
Simple Lunar Motion Residence Lectures on Great Solar Eclipse | 120 |
The Calculator Resolves to Lecture on other departments of Science | 130 |
The Mechanical Paradox Letter from Ferguson to the Rev Mr Cooper | 139 |
Wrote an Account of the Lever the Pulley the Wheel and Axle | 145 |
Perpetual Pocket Almanack Letter from Ferguson to Hugh Rose Esq | 154 |
Ferguson seemingly applies for some vacant situation Letter from | 166 |
At Norwich Astronomical Lectures and Publication of Brief Descrip | 180 |
Ferguson invented and made a large wooden Orrery The Mechanical | 206 |
Lectures and correcting proof sheets of Astronomy Death of Sir Dudley | 216 |
Letter from Ferguson to Rev Alexander Irvine of Elgin The Prince | 225 |
John Fergusons third son born Pyrometer A New Astronomical | 236 |
The Young Gentleman and Ladys Astronomy published Electrical | 349 |
Universal respect for Ferguson Royal Pension | 369 |
Lectures at NewcastleonTyno Dr Hutton On the Area of a Circle | 377 |
Plaidallis Perpetual Motion Maze or Labyrinth Lectures in Derby | 387 |
Projection of part of the Sphere Blind Mans Clock Projection of | 404 |
Astronomical Rotula and Tract Revival of the Kennedy Controversy | 444 |
Money Bequeathed to Ferguson Table of the Equation of Time | 452 |
Newspaper Obituary Notices Posthumous Detractor and Defenders Dr Houl | 459 |
| 491 | |
Other editions - View all
Life of James Ferguson, F.R.S.: In a Brief Autobiographical Account, and ... Ebenezer Henderson,James Ferguson No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Life of James Ferguson, F. R. S.: In a Brief Autobiographical Account, and Further Extended Memoir Cambridge Library Collection - Astronomy Cambridge library collection |
| Author | James Ferguson |
| Editors | Ebenezer Henderson, James Ferguson |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2010 |
| ISBN | 1108021263, 9781108021265 |
| Length | 530 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Physics / Astrophysics Science / Space Science / Astronomy |
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