George Bishop (astronomer)

Bishop's scientific career began with his admission to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1830, funded by the money he had earned from the wine business.

He took lessons in algebra from Augustus De Morgan, with a view to reading Pierre-Simon Laplace's five volume work Mécanique Céleste (Celestial Mechanics), by the age of fifty achieving his goal of sufficient mathematical knowledge to comprehend the scope of its methods.

In 1836 Bishop was able to realise a long-held intention by erecting an astronomical observatory near his residence at the South Villa of Regent's Park, on which he spared no expense in order to ensure that it would be of practical use.

[5] He acted as secretary to the society from 1833 to 1839 and as treasurer from 1840 to 1857, and was chosen president in two successive years, 1857 and 1858, although the state of his health rendered him unable to take the chair.

After a long period of physical illness, but during which he retained his mental faculties, Bishop died on 14 June 1861 at the age of 76.