William Radcliffe Birt

William Radcliffe Birt FRAS (15 July 1804 – 14 December 1881) was an English amateur astronomer in the 19th century.

[1] Birt was employed by John Herschel to carry out a great deal of meteorogical research on atmospheric waves, from 1839 to 1843.

[1] A lot of his work is held in the Scientist's Collection at the American Philosophical Society.

Probably on Herschel's recommendation, Birt became involved with the Kew Observatory in the later 1840s under the Directorship of Francis Ronalds.

[2] In 1850 he published 'The Hurricane Guide: Being an attempt to Connect the Rotary Gale or Revolving Storm with Atmospheric Waves'.

William Radcliffe Birt FRAS (1804–1881) was an English amateur astronomer in the 19th century. This photograph, showing Birt with the pier of Victoria Park Observatory in London, was taken in October 1867.