Charles Green (astronomer)

Charles Green (baptised 26 December 1734 – 29 January 1771) was a British astronomer, noted for his assignment by the Royal Society in 1768 to the expedition sent to the Pacific Ocean in order to observe the transit of Venus aboard James Cook's Endeavour.

His education, according to his future brother-in-law William Wales, was chiefly at a school near Denmark Street in Soho, London.

[6][7] The expedition arrived at Tahiti, the chosen site for the observation of the transit, on 11 April 1769, anchoring in Matavai Bay on the north-western coast of the island two days later.

Due to Green's death on the homeward voyage, the work of collating and analysing his results fell first to Cook, and ultimately to Nevil Maskelyne.

"[9] Following the departure from Tahiti, the Endeavour continued south-westwards as Cook carried out his orders to further explore the Southern Ocean.

The expedition reached New Zealand in October 1769, giving Green an opportunity to observe the transit of Mercury from land.

Disease were rife in the Dutch-controlled city, including malaria and dysentery; Green contracted the latter, dying on 29 January 1771, twelve days after the ship's departure from the port.

[13] An account published in a London newspaper described his final hours: "He had been ill some time, and was directed by the surgeon to keep himself warm, but in a fit of phrensy he got up in the night and put his legs out of the portholes, which was the occasion of his death.

"[5][14] Green married Elizabeth Long in March 1768 in London;[1] the records of the Royal Society mention making a provision of £50 per annum for his wife for the duration of the expedition.