P008055 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2026-05-26 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-06-02 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P008055b.htm person Wales William FRS AACR2 1734? 29 December 1798 Place of Birth Yorkshire, United Kingdom Place of Death London, United Kingdom Astronomer Mathematician William Wales was an astronomer and mathematician who was employed by Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne to make calculations related to the determination of longitude. In 1769 Wales was in Hudson Bay to observe the transit of Venus. This led directly to his appointment by the Board of Longitude to accompany James Cook in H.M.S. Resolution on Cook's second voyage of discovery in the Southern and Pacific Oceans. Together with William Bayly, astronomer in the accompanying ship H.M.S. Adventure, Wales was responsible for testing the experimental chronometers used for determining longitude. His log of the voyage recorded the use and testing of his equipment and as well as observations made throughout the journey. George Vancouver, Midshipman in H.M.S. Resolution, learned astronomy with Wales during the voyage, which proved useful in Vancouver's subsequent explorations in the Pacific. Wales's astronomical observations made during the voyage were published in Cook's account. On his return to London Wales was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, became Master of the Royal Mathematical School, Christ's Hospital, and in 1795, was appointed Secretary of the Board of Longitude. July 1772 July 1775 Career position - Astronomer, H.M.S. Resolution for James Cook's second voyage 1776 1798 Award - Fellow, Royal Society, London 1795 1798 Career position - Secretary, Board of Longitude Nelson, David (? - 1789) Anderson, William (1750 - 1778) Forster, Johann Reinhold (1729 - 1798) Forster, Johann George Adam (1754 - 1794) Bayly, William (1737 - 1810) H.M.S. Resolution, Royal Navy (1770 - c. 1782)

Astronomer on James Cook's second voyage 1772 - 1775

 'Wales, William', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, History of Australian Science Research Group Wales, William Swinburne University of Technology, Office of the Chief Scientist Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: The original observations, made in the course of a voyage towards the South Pole, and around the world, in His Majesty's ships Resolution and Adventure, in the years MDCCLLXXII, MDCCLLXXIII, MDCCLLXXIV, and MDCCLLXXV Wales, William and Bayly, William The original observations, made in the course of a voyage towards the South Pole, and around the world, in His Majesty's ships Resolution and Adventure, in the years MDCCLLXXII, MDCCLLXXIII, MDCCLLXXIV, and MDCCLLXXV London W. and A. Strahan 1777 Book: The method of finding longitude at sea by the time-keepers: to which are added, tables of equations to equal altitudes Wales, William The method of finding longitude at sea by the time-keepers: to which are added, tables of equations to equal altitudes London C. Buckton 1794 Book: Captain Cook's Computer: the life of William Wales, F.R.S. (1734-1798) Wales, Wendy Captain Cook's Computer: the life of William Wales, F.R.S. (1734-1798) [York, U.K.] Hame House 2015 Journal Article: William Wales (ca. 1734 - 1798): playing the astronomer Reid, Francis Lucien William Wales (ca. 1734 - 1798): playing the astronomer 2008 Studies in history and philosophy of science 39 2 170-5 Journal Article: From Transit of Venus to Teaching Navigation: the Work of William Wales Orchiston, Wayne and Howse, D. From Transit of Venus to Teaching Navigation: the Work of William Wales 2000 Journal of Navigation 53 156-166