Astronomer Royal

Astronomer Royal was originally the title of the director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but since 1972 it has simply been an honorary title.

John Flamsteed became the first Astronomer Royal when the Royal Greenwich Observatory was founded in 1675. The complete list of Astronomers Royal is given in the table below.

John Flamsteed                1675 - 1719
Edmond Halley                 1720 - 1742
James Bradley                 1742 - 1762
Nathaniel Bliss               1762 - 1764
Nevil Maskelyne               1765 - 1811
John Pond                     1811 - 1835
George Biddell Airy           1835 - 1881
William H. M. Christie        1881 - 1910
Frank Watson Dyson            1910 - 1933
Harold Spencer Jones          1933 - 1955
Richard van der Riet Woolley  1956 - 1971
Martin Ryle                   1972 - 1982 
Francis Graham Smith          1982 - 1990
Arnold Wolfendale             1991 - 1995 
Martin Rees                   1995 -