Dunlop, James (1793 - 1848)

Summary

James Dunlop was Superintendent at the Parramatta Observatory, New South Wales 1831-1847.

Details

Born 31 October 1793. Died 22 September 1848. Began constructing telescopes 1810, developed an interest in astronomy through an acquaintance with Sir Thomas Brisbane (q.v.) 1820, appointed assistant astronomer with Carl Rümker (q.v.), at the newly established Parramatta Observatory 1821, worked in Brisbane's private observatory, Roxburgh, Scotland 1827-31, superintendent, Parramatta Observatory 1831-47. Remembered for his work on the "Catalogue of 7835 Stars from Observations made at the Observatory at Parramatta", prepared by William Richardson of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich from the observations made in 1822-26, for his catalogue of 621 nebulae, published in "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society" 1828 and for his life of double stars, published in "Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society" 1829. Gold medal, Royal Astronomical Society 1828.

Archival resources

Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales

• Christian Carl Ludwig Rümker - Records, 1825 - 1845, MS Q569; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
• James Dunlop - Records, 1832 - 1840; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details
• Phillip Parker King - Records, 1848 - 1856, MS Q299; Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Gavine, David, 'James Dunlop, 1793-1848' in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004). Details
• Wood, Harley, 'Dunlop, James (1793-1848), astronomer' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Douglas Pike, ed., vol. 1 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1966), p. 338. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010322b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• Bhathal, Ragbir, 'Some Scientific Aspects of Parramatta Observatory', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 145 (2012), 111-27. Details
• Cozens, Glen, Walsh, Andrew and Orchiston, Wayne, 'James Dunlop's Historical Catalogue of the Southern Nebulae and Clusters', Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 13 (1) (2010), 59-73. Details
• Russell, H.C., 'Astronomical and Meteorological Workers in New South Wales, 1778-1860', Report of the first meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, 1 (1888), 45-94, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15813133. Details
• Rutledge, S., 'For Further Consideration: Mr James Dunlop, Esq. ', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 142 (2009), 17-28 . Details
• Tyler, Peter J., 'Seeing Stars in the City: a History of Early Astronomy in Sydney', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 142 (3/4) (2009), 1-14. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q375158. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/7776545. Details
• 'Dunlop, James (1793-1848)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1468509. Details

See also

• Federation and Meteorology, 2001, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/index_d.html. Details
• Serle, Percival, Dictionary of Australian biography (Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1949). Details