Wentworth Erck

Wentworth Erck FRAS (27 July 1827 – 15 January 1890) was an Irish astronomer, poor-law guardian and magistrate.

He married Charlotte Anne Kingston and they settled at Sherrington, Shankill, Dublin, near Bray, County Wicklow in 1870, not far from his lands and tenants.

He was the first person in Ireland or Britain to observe the moons of Mars, even missing their discovery by only two weeks (they were discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall) with a 66 cm (26 inch) reflector); that he noticed them at all with his relatively small telescope was regarded as remarkable.

[11][12][13] His articles included his equipment designs and improvements, for example an adjustable observing chair[14] and a method for reducing heating at the eyepiece while looking at the Sun.

[1][6] Erck exercised his duties diligently as a magistrate for County Wicklow, a poor law guardian and attending to his lands and tenants.

Arthur Rambaut (later Royal Astronomer of Ireland) stated that there was no doubt that his public duties affected his health and shortened his life, but he was a happy man of a kindly nature and good spirits and was highly respected.