AIRY, GEORGE BIDDELL, F.R.s., etc., astronomer royal, was b. at Alnwiek in 1801. He was educated principally at Colchester, and passed in 1819 to the university of Cambridge. In 1822 he was elected scholar; in 1823 he took the degree of B.A., with the honor of senior wrangler; and in 1826 that of ,N.A. In the same year he was elevated to the chair of science founded by Lucas, which he rescued from the reproach of being a sinecure by delivering a course of public lectures on experimental philosophy. In 1828 he was made Plumian prof., and had the management of the newly erected Cambridge observatory intrusted to him. On account of his severe and unintermitting labors in connection with this office, his income was augmented from the funds of the university. He published his observations (Astronomical Observations: Cambridge, 1829-38, 9 vols.), arranged in a clear and simple manner, and they have served as a model ever since for those of Greenwich and other observatories. In 1835, the office of astronomer royal becoming vacant, A. was appointed to it by lord Auckland,, then first lord of the admiralty. IIe has introduced new or more perfect scientific instruments,
more rapid methods of calculation, and researches in magnetism, meteorology, photog raphy, etc. Ile contributed the well-known article on "Gravitation" to the Penny Cyclopirdia (1837). Equally excellent and popular is his treatise on trigonometry, written for the Encyclopeedia 3fetropolitana (1855). He has deservedly obtained the reputation of being one of the most able and indefatigable of living saran. Ile served on the royal commission appointed in 1868 to inquire into the standard weights and measures. In 1869 lie communicated to the royal astronomical society a remarkable discovery on "Atmospheric Chromatic Dispersion, as affecting Telescopic Observation and the mode of correcting it." He became a companion.(civil) of the bath in 1871, and a knight commander in 1872. A. is an F.R.S.; an honorary member of the institution of civil engineers, corresponding member of the French institute, a D.C.L. of Oxford, and LL.D. of Cambridge and Edinburgh.