P000065 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J. updated 2026-03-17 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000065b.htm person Abbott Francis AACR2 12 August 1799 18 February 1883 Place of Birth Derby, England Place of Death Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Watch maker Astronomer Meteorologist Francis Abbott, a watchmaker, was transported to Tasmania in 1845 for 'obtaining two watches under false pretences'. He served one year with the Oyster Cove gangs and three years as an assigned servant. Abbott was freed three years early in 1849 and set up his own business in Hobart. He was very successful and many of his public clocks, including one at Government House, were erected. Francis Abbott also had a keen interest in meteorology and astronomy. His reputation in this field soon overshadowed his watch and clock making abilities. He began making observations at the Rossbank Observatory soon after his arrival in Tasmania. After its closure in 1854 he continued his work in his private observatory. Self-taught, Abbott went on to pioneer observations of the southern hemisphere and contributed numerous articles to astronomy and meteorological journals. He also wrote several books. His recordings became the standard reference for the local climate and were published in world charts. He was also the first astronomer to record and announce changes on the variable star Argus (Carinae). Many of his large collection of books (philosophy and science) and instruments are kept by museums, observatories and universities around Australia. 25 October 1821 25 October 1821 Life event - Married Mary Woolley at St Werburgh's Church in Derby, UK 1831 1831 Career position - Honorary member of the Antiquarian and Chronological Society of London 1838 1838 Publication - "A Treatise on the Management of Public Clocks", published in London 1844 1844 Life event - Sentenced to seven years transportation by the Central Criminal Court in England Jun 1845 Jun 1845 Life event - Arrived in Hobart Town, Tasmania 27 Mar 1849 27 Mar 1849 Life event - Received a ticket-of-leave and started a watch and clockmaker business in Murray St, Hobart 1850 1850 Life event - Wife and family granted free passage to join him 1854 1880 Career position - Began recording meteorological observations which were published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1855 1855 Career event - Member, Royal Society of Tasmania 1859 1859 Career position - Clock at Government House erected 1860 1860 Career event - Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society, London 1861 1861 Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of Tasmania 1861 1883 Award - Life Member, Royal Society of Tasmania 1869 1869 Career event - Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society 1878 1878 Publication - "Modern Astronomy", published in Hobart 1879 1879 Publication - "Résumé on Modern Astronomy", published in Hobart 1880 1880 Publication - "Siderereal Systems of the Modern Astronomy, Multiple Suns and Far-off Worlds", published in Tasmania Abbott, Francis (Jnr) (1834 - 1903) Royal Society of Tasmania (1843 - )

Member of Council 1861; Life Member 1861 - 1883

 Rossbank Observatory (1840 - 1854)

Participated in observations

Wikidata

 Abbott, Francis (1799-18830218)

Trove

 'Abbott, Francis', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Abbott, Francis Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Spectrum analysis Abbott, Francis Spectrum analysis 1863 Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 2-9 Journal Article: Spectrum analysis and its application to science. Abbott, Francis Spectrum analysis and its application to science. 1869 Monthly notices of Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1868 41-48 Resource Section: Abbott, Francis Abbott, Francis Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Book Section: Abbott, Francis (1799-1883), watchmaker, amateur astronomer and meteorologist Rimmer, Gordon Abbott, Francis (1799-1883), watchmaker, amateur astronomer and meteorologist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1969 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 3: 1851 - 1890 A-C Douglas Pike 2-3 Journal Article: The Contribution of Francis Abbott to Tasmanian and Australian Astronomy Orchiston, Wayne The Contribution of Francis Abbott to Tasmanian and Australian Astronomy 1992 Vistas in Astronomy 35 315-344 Book: Results of twenty-five years' meteorological observations for Hobart Town together with a two years' register of the principal atmospheric meteors and aurora australis Abbott, Francis Results of twenty-five years' meteorological observations for Hobart Town together with a two years' register of the principal atmospheric meteors and aurora australis Hobart Mercury Steam Press 1866 Book: Results of five years meteorological observations for Hobart Town; with which are incorporated the results of thirty years observations previously published by the Royal Society of Tasmania and completing a period of thirty-five years (1841-75) Abbott, Francis Results of five years meteorological observations for Hobart Town; with which are incorporated the results of thirty years observations previously published by the Royal Society of Tasmania and completing a period of thirty-five years (1841-75) Hobart Government Printer 1877 Book: Results of five years meteorological observations for Hobart Town; with which are incorporated the results of twenty-five years observations previously published by the Royal Society of Tasmania and completing a period of thirty years Abbott, Francis Results of five years meteorological observations for Hobart Town; with which are incorporated the results of twenty-five years observations previously published by the Royal Society of Tasmania and completing a period of thirty years Hobart Government Printer 1872 Book: Results of meteorological observations for twenty years for Hobart Town, made at the Royal Observatory, Ross Bank, from January 1841, to December 1854, and at the Private Observatory, from January 1855 to December 1860, inclusive Abbott, Francis Results of meteorological observations for twenty years for Hobart Town, made at the Royal Observatory, Ross Bank, from January 1841, to December 1854, and at the Private Observatory, from January 1855 to December 1860, inclusive Hobart Town Government Printer 1861 Resource: Federation and Meteorology Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Federation and Meteorology 2001 Journal Article: Records of Tasmanian Botanists Maiden, J. H. Records of Tasmanian Botanists 1909 Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1909 9-29 Francis Abbott - Records National Herbarium, Melbourne Francis Abbott - Records MSS M55 1879 - 1881 Letters 1879-81 by Abbott in Tasmania to F. Mueller about Tasmanian plants and their identification. Francis Abbott - Records Private hands (Abbott, M.) Francis Abbott - Records 1860 - 1872 Diaries and other papers c1860-72 from Francis Abbott's son, Alfred (1838-1872) who was a watchmaker, photographer and a diarist. Francis Abbott - Records Royal Society of Tasmania Francis Abbott - Records RSA/B.10, RSA/A.17(A) 1856 - 1874 Reports to the Royal Society of Tasmania on meteorology with comment on humidity and epidemics 1856, sun observations and telescopes 1859 and manuscripts of papers read 1868-74 (see also 'Papers and Proceedings') [11 items, RSA/B.10 and RSA/A.17(A)]. 11 items