Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, French astronomer, c 1810s

Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, French astronomer, c 1810s. Engraving made in 1833 by Benjamin Holl from the original by Boilly. Delambre (1749-1822) developed statistical methods for calculating tables of lunar motion. These were used throughout the nineteenth century. From his research he published 'Tables du Soleil, de Jupiter, de Saturne, d'Uranus et des satellites de Jupiter' (1792). He worked at the Bureau des Longitudes from 1795, and measured the arc of the meridian extending from Dunkirk to Barcelona. His account was published in 'Base du syst¿me mŽtrique'. He also wrote histories of astronomy through the ages, and has a large lunar crater named after him. Dimensions: 127mm x 102mm. ©SSPL/Science Museum