Macfarlane Observatory

The Observatory was named after Alexander MacFarlane, a slaveholding Scottish merchant and astronomer who resided in Kingston, Jamaica and bequeathed his astronomical instruments to the University of Glasgow after his death in October 1755.

[1] The instruments arrived to Glasgow in a deteriorated condition, and their suitability for mounting was in question before they were taken in hand by James Watt in 1756.

Watt trained in London and upon returning to Glasgow served as instrument maker to the university.

A portrait and biographical note about Alexander MacFarlane appear on the University's website.

It outlines significant gifts received by the University from people that derived wealth from slavery, which includes an acknowledgement of the value and intellectual capital of the instruments donated by Alexander Macfarlane.