Thomas Brisbane

Sir Thomas Brisbane Makdougall ( born July 23, 1773 in Largs, † January 21, 1860 ) was a soldier and astronomer. He had studied at Edinburgh University astronomy and mathematics. Later he joined the British Army.

Period of service in the army

He served in Ireland, Flanders and in the West Indies before he changed his mind in his retirement to the study of astronomy.

Governor time

From December 4, 1821 to December 1, 1825 Brisbane was Governor of New South Wales. During this period, the Brisbane River (1823 ) and the city of Brisbane ( 1824) was named after him. As governor in 1821, he was competent, but problems with his administration in the form of civil officials meant that he was grateful to return in 1825 to his observatory.

Achievements in astronomy

At Brisbane's main interests was one of astronomy. He built an observatory in 1808 in Ayrshire. From this it was possible for him to progress in the field of navigation, which took place over the next hundred years to contribute. When he was appointed Governor, he took with him all his instruments and the two astronomers Karl Rümker and James Dunlop to New South Wales. Thus he could in the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie was still in office, focus more astronomical observations. Also, the first well-equipped Australian Observatory in Parramatta, west of Sydney, was founded in 1822 by him. In 1828 him the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society was awarded. In 1835 he published The Brisbane Catalogue, a catalog of stars in the 7385 stars were detected in the southern hemisphere. The observatory in Parramatta was in operation until 1855.

Awards and honors

The lunar crater Brisbane is named after him.