Astronomer Royal

Astronomer Royal was originally the title of the director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but since 1972 it has simply been an honorary title.

John Flamsteed became the first Astronomer Royal when the Royal Greenwich Observatory was founded in 1675. The complete list of Astronomers Royal is given in the table below.

John Flamsteed                1675 - 1719

Edmond Halley                 1720 - 1742

James Bradley                 1742 - 1762

Nathaniel Bliss               1762 - 1764

Nevil Maskelyne               1765 - 1811

John Pond                     1811 - 1835

George Biddell Airy           1835 - 1881

William H. M. Christie        1881 - 1910

Frank Watson Dyson            1910 - 1933

Harold Spencer Jones          1933 - 1955

Richard van der Riet Woolley  1956 - 1971

Martin Ryle                   1972 - 1982 

Francis Graham Smith          1982 - 1990

Arnold Wolfendale             1991 - 1995 

Martin Rees                   1995 -\n