Astronomer Royal

Astronomer Royal was originally the title of the director of the [Royal Greenwich Observatory]?, but since 1972 it has simply been an honorary title.

[John Flamsteed]? became the first Astronomer Royal when the Royal Greenwich Observatory was founded in 1675. The complete list of Astronomers Royal is given in the table below.

John Flamsteed                1675 - 1719
Edmond Halley                 1720 - 1742
James Bradley                 1742 - 1762
Nathaniel Bliss               1762 - 1764
Nevil Maskelyne               1765 - 1811
John Pond                     1811 - 1835
George Biddell Airy           1835 - 1881 
William H.M. Christie         1881 - 1910 
Frank Watson Dyson            1910 - 1933 
Harold Spencer Jones          1933 - 1955 
Richard van der Riet Woolley  1956 - 1971 
Martin Ryle                   1972 - 1982 
Francis Graham Smith          1982 - 1990 
Arnold Wolfendale             1991 - 1995 
Martin Rees                   1995 -