James Bradley, English priest and astronomer (b. 1693)
James Bradley (1692–1762) was an English astronomer and priest who served as the third Astronomer Royal from 1742. He is best known for two fundamental discoveries in astronomy, the aberration of light (1725–1728), and the nutation of the Earth's axis (1728–1748).
These two discoveries were called "the most brilliant and useful of the century" by Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, historian of astronomy, mathematical astronomer and director of the Paris Observatory. In his History of astronomy in the 18th century (1821), Delambre stated:"It is to these two discoveries by Bradley that we owe the exactness of modern astronomy. ... This double service assures to their discoverer the most distinguished place (after Hipparchus and Kepler) above the greatest astronomers of all ages and all countries."
1762Jul, 13
James Bradley
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Events on 1762
- 5May
Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1762)
Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg. - 22May
Treaty of Hamburg (1762)
Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Hamburg. - 6Jun
Battle of Havana (1762)
Seven Years' War: British forces begin a siege of Havana, Cuba, and temporarily capture the city in the Battle of Havana. - 15Sep
Battle of Signal Hill
Seven Years' War: Battle of Signal Hill. - 6Oct
Battle of Manila (1762)
Seven Years' War: Conclusion of the Battle of Manila between Britain and Spain, which resulted in the British occupation of Manila for the rest of the war.