Flamsteed

The observatory was founded by Charles II in 1676 with Flamsteed House, named after the first Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed, thought to be the work of Sir Christopher Wren.

The Queen visited the restored Flamsteed House, the oldest building of the old Royal Observatory, in 1960.

As President of the Royal, he was also involved in another unedifying dispute, this time with Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, who was reluctant to release his new star catalogue until everything had been checked and double-checked, while everyone else was desperate to get their hands on the data.

The choice of phrase caused much mirth when the will became public on the death of Halifax in 1715, not least to Newton’s bitter enemy Flamsteed.

In the summer of that year, Halley visited Flamsteed in London, and he assisted him with observations, including two lunar eclipses on 27 June and 21 December.