William Ellis (astronomer)

Major William Ellis, FRS FRAS FRMS (20 February 1828 – 11 December 1916) was a British astronomer and meteorologist.

In 1841 he began working at the Royal Observatory, first as a computer and later as an observer.

In 1852 he took charge of Durham University Observatory, before returning the following year to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich where he first headed the Time Department and later the Magnetical and Meteorological Department.

Ellis was also a member of the Eugenics Education Society.

He succumbed to heart failure on 11 December 1916, at Blackheath, London.