1-150-147 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

John Flamsteed, astronomer, 1712. Flamsteed was appointed the first Astronomer Royal of England by Charles II, on the founding of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, in 1675. Born in Denby, Derbyshire, he was educated at Cambridge University before being appointed Astronomer Royal. Data collected at the Royal Observatory by Flamsteed was used by Isaac Newton to verify his theory of gravity.