ASTRONOMICAL
SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
KNOX-SHAW, H [Dr.]
Professional
Astronomer
Born: 12 October 1885, Sussex, U.K.
Died: 8 April 1970, Cape Town, South Africa
Index:
Director of Radcliffe Observatory 1939 - 1951
Summary:
Knox-Shaw was an astronomer in Egypt. When he became director of Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford (1924), he did not like the British seeing conditions. Knox-Shaw decided to move the Observatory to a better view sight. The correct opportunity presented itself and the Observatory was moved from Oxford to Pretoria in 1939. Thus Knox-Shaw was director of the Radcliffe between 1924 to 1951. (Radcliffe Oxford: 1924 - 1939 / Radcliffe Pretoria: 1939 - 1951)
"Knox-Shaw was a man of great charm and sense of humour as well as absolute dedication. There is a story that on one occasion he had a bet with Eddington about the value of a certain mathematical constant. As it was unlikely that the matter would be cleared up during their lifetimes, it was agreed that the loser should ultimately present the winner with a new harp. Most astronomers agree that by now the bet has been fairly and squarely won by Knox-Shaw..". [Copied from Moore, p.115.]
Career:
Trinity College, Cambridge. (Sixth Wrangler 1907)
1908?: Assistant at Khedivial Observatory, Helwan Egypt.
1913: Superintendent at Khedivial.
1924 - 1939: Director Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, U.K.
1939 - 1951: Director of Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria.
1951: Retire.
Personal:
1885 October 12: Born at St Leonards on Sea, Sussex.
Educated Wellington College
1951: Retire to Elgin Valley, Western Cape.
1970 April 8: Died Cape Town.
Link to the Telescope Manufacturers.
Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources.
Bibliography:
Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, pp.114 - 119. (General Source)
Smits, P., A Brief History of Astronomy in Southern Africa. (Unpublished)
By Knox-Shaw:
Related
Internal Links:
Radcliffe
Observatory.
Related
External Links
Historical Astronomical
Posts in Britain and Ireland
Link to Objects Lost and / or Found.
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Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources and the Archive.
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