Astronomer.

Largely responsible for Britain’s change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (1751). Had his own observatory and laboratory at Shirburn Castle, Oxfordshire.

Elected to the Royal Society (1722). President of the Royal Society from 1752 until his death.

Wrote the speech announcing the award of the Copley medal to Franklin for his experiments with electricity (1753).

Married Mary Lane in 1722; two sons. Married Dorothy Nesbit in 1757, after the death of his first wife.