Nathaniel Bliss

Nathaniel Bliss (* November 28 1700 in Bisley, Gloucestershire, † September 2, 1764 in Oxford ) was an English astronomer. He served from 1762 to 1764 as Astronomer Royal ( Astronomer Royal).

Life and work

He studied at Pembroke College, Oxford. In 1742, he became successor by Edmond Halley as Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford University. In the same year he became a member of the Royal Society. In 1764 he became the fourth Astronomer Royal in succession to James Bradley.

In 2000, the lunar crater Bliss was named after him by the IAU.