FITZROY, ROBERT (18o5-1865), English vice-admiral, hydrographer and meteorologist, was born at Ampton Hall, Suf folk, on July 5, i8o5, being a grandson on the father's side of the third duke of Grafton, and, on the mother's, of the first Marquis of Londonderry. He entered the navy in 1819. After service in the Mediterranean and on the South American station he was promoted in 1828 to the command of the "Beagle," a brig of 24o tons, which was employed on the survey of the coasts of Pata gonia and Terra del Fuego. She returned in 183o, and Fitzroy brought with him four Fuegians. One of them died after reach ing England; the others he took back the next year, when he was reappointed to the "Beagle" to continue the survey. She sailed from Plymouth on Dec. 27, 1831, carrying as a supernumerary Charles Darwin. On Oct. 2, 1836, she reached Falmouth again, having surveyed the Straits of Magellan and part of the coast of South America, and run a chronometric line round the world. In 1839 Fitzroy published in two volumes Narrative of the ... Voyages of H.M.S.S. Adventure and Beagle, etc., with a third volume by Darwin. In 1843 he became member of parlia ment for Durham and was appointed conservator of the Mersey. Early in 1843 he was appointed governor and commander-in chief of New Zealand. His policy favoured the natives, and the settlers secured his recall in Nov. 1845. After serving as super intendent of Woolwich Dockyard, and in command of the "Arro gant," an experimental screw frigate fitted out under his super vision, he was placed on half-pay in 185o. In 1854 he was ap pointed chief of the newly formed meteorological department of the Board of Trade, and henceforward his career was devoted to practical meteorology. In 1863 he published his Weather Book; the views in it are far in advance of his time, and his system of observations of storm warnings is the basis of that in use to-day. He also reduced to a practical form the wind charts of Capt. Maury. His last years were devoted to the Lifeboat Association. This work overstrained his health, and he committed suicide on April 3o, 1865.