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{{short description|British astronomer}}
{{short description|British astronomer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix = [[Sir]]
⚫
|name = Sir Francis Graham-Smith
|image =Francis Graham Smith.jpg
| name = Fancis Graham Smith
⚫
| image = Francis Graham Smith.jpg
|image_size = 140px
|caption = in 2009
| caption = Graham Smith in 2009
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1923|04|25}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1923|4|25|df=y}}
| education = [[Rossall School]]
|birth_place =
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| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
|death_date =
* [[University of Cambridge]]
|death_place =
* [[Downing College]]
|residence =
|citizenship =
|nationality =
|ethnicity =
|field =
|work_institutions =
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|alma_mater =
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for = [[Astronomer Royal]]
|author_abbrev_bot =
|author_abbrev_zoo =
|influences =
|influenced =
|prizes =
|footnotes =
|signature =
}}
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Elizabeth Graham Smith||2021|end=died}}

| awards = {{plainlist|
'''Sir Francis Graham-Smith''' (born 25 April 1923) is a British [[astronomer]]. He was the thirteenth [[Astronomer Royal]] from 1982 to 1990.
* [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] (1970)
* [[Royal Medal]] (1970)
}}
| fields = [[Radio astronomy]]
| workplaces = {{plainlist|
* [[University of Manchester]]
* [[Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory]]
}}
}}
'''Sir Francis Graham-Smith''' (born 25 April 1923) is a British [[astronomer]]. He was the thirteenth [[Astronomer Royal]] from 1982 to 1990 and was knighted in 1986.<ref name="royalsociety">{{Cite web|title=Francis Graham-Smith {{!}} Royal Society|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/francis-graham-smith-11525/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=royalsociety.org|language=en-gb}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==

===Education===
===Education===
He was educated at [[Rossall School]], [[Lancashire]], England, and attended [[Downing College, Cambridge]] from 1941.
He was educated at [[Rossall School]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-02-06|title=Sir Francis Graham Smith|url=https://www.rossall.org.uk/sir-francis-graham-smith/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=Rossall School}}</ref> [[Lancashire]], England, and attended [[Downing College, Cambridge]] from 1941.<ref>{{Cite web|last=rp441|date=2016-07-01|title=Sir Francis Graham-Smith|url=https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/people/sir-francis-graham-smith|access-date=2021-07-05|website=Downing College Cambridge|language=en}}</ref>


===Career===
===Career===
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In 1964 he was appointed Professor of Radio Astronomy the [[University of Manchester]] and in 1981 director of the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, part of the University of Manchester at [[Jodrell Bank Observatory|Jodrell Bank]]. He was also [[Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory]] from 1975 to 1981.
In 1964 he was appointed Professor of Radio Astronomy the [[University of Manchester]] and in 1981 director of the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, part of the University of Manchester at [[Jodrell Bank Observatory|Jodrell Bank]]. He was also [[Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory]] from 1975 to 1981.

He appeared in Episode 13 of Series 4 of [[Treasure Hunt (British game show)|''Treasure Hunt'']] when the show visited Jodrell Bank, giving presenter [[Anneka Rice]] a piggy back to allow her to reach a clue.<ref>{{Citation|title=Treasure Hunt S04e13 @ Cheshire|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fYcItw4Cf0|language=en|access-date=2021-07-05}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

=== Bibliography ===

* ''Optics'' (1971)
* ''Pathways to the Universe'' (1988)
* ''Pulsar Astronomy'' (1990)
* ''An Introduction to Radio Astronomy'' (1997)
* ''Unseen Cosmos'' (2013)
* ''Eyes on the Sky'' (2016)

=== Personal life ===
Graham-Smith is an avid bee-keeper and kept up this hobby well into his 90s, looking after the hives at Jodrell Bank. He also inspired the creation of the [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]] Amateur Beekeeping Society.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neale|first=Angus|date=2018-10-11|title=Waxing Lyrical|url=http://www.thesaint.scot/2018/10/waxing-lyrical/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=The Saint|language=en-US|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182842/http://www.thesaint.scot/2018/10/waxing-lyrical/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He lived with his wife Elizabeth in the Old School House in [[Henbury, Cheshire]], from 1981 until her death in 2021. They had met when they were both working with [[Martin Ryle]] in 1945-6 in Cambridge in the early days of radio astronomy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lady Elizabeth Graham- Smith|url=https://www.henbury.org/news/lady-elizabeth-graham-smith.html|access-date=2021-07-05|website=www.henbury.org|language=en}}</ref>

He celebrated his [[Centenarian|100th birthday]] on 25 April 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/sir-francis/|title=Happy 100th Birthday, Sir Francis!|publisher=The University of Manchester|date=25 April 2023}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==
He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1970 <ref>{{cite web | url= http://royalsociety.org/about-us/fellowship/fellows/| title = Fellows| publisher = [[Royal Society]]| accessdate= 30 December 2010}}</ref> and was awarded their [[Royal Medal]] in 1987.
He was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] in 1970 <ref name="royalsociety" /> and was awarded their [[Royal Medal]] in 1987.


He was president of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] from 1975 to 1977.
He was president of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] from 1975 to 1977.


He was the thirteenth [[Astronomer Royal]] from 1982 to 1990.
He was the thirteenth [[Astronomer Royal]] from 1982 to 1990.

He won the [[Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize]] in 1991.


===Patronage===
===Patronage===
Sir Francis Graham-Smith is a Distinguished Supporter of [[Humanists UK]] and is a patron of [[Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society]].
Sir Francis Graham-Smith is a Distinguished Supporter of [[Humanists UK]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sir Francis Graham-Smith, FRS, FRAS, F Inst P|url=https://humanism.org.uk/about/our-people/patrons/sir-francis-graham-smith/|access-date=2021-07-05|website=Humanists UK|language=en}}</ref> is the President of [https://maccastrosoc.com/index.php Macclesfield Astronomical Society] and is a patron of [[Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society]].


===Lectures===
===Lectures===
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat|Francis Graham Smith}}
{{commons category|Francis Graham Smith}}
*[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/SmithGraham.html Scienceworld biography]
*[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/SmithGraham.html Scienceworld biography]
* [http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0180%2FRGO%20** Online catalogue of F. Graham Smith's working papers as director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (held at Cambridge University Library)]
* [http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0180%2FRGO%20** Online catalogue of F. Graham Smith's working papers as director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (held at Cambridge University Library)]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham-Smith, Francis}}
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[[Category:20th-century British astronomers]]
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[[Category:People educated at Rossall School]]
[[Category:Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Astronomers Royal]]
[[Category:Astronomers Royal]]
[[Category:British astronomers]]
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[[Category:British humanists]]
[[Category:Fellows of Downing College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Fellows of Downing College, Cambridge]]
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[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Royal Medal winners]]
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[[Category:20th-century astronomers]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
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[[Category:People educated at Rossall School]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
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[[Category:British centenarians]]
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Revision as of 19:27, 28 April 2024

Sir
Fancis Graham Smith
Graham Smith in 2009
Born (1923-04-25) 25 April 1923 (age 101)
EducationRossall School
Alma mater
Spouse
Elizabeth Graham Smith
​
​
(died 2021)​
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsRadio astronomy
Institutions

Sir Francis Graham-Smith (born 25 April 1923) is a British astronomer. He was the thirteenth Astronomer Royal from 1982 to 1990 and was knighted in 1986.[1]

Biography

Education

He was educated at Rossall School,[2] Lancashire, England, and attended Downing College, Cambridge from 1941.[3]

Career

In the late 1940s he worked at the University of Cambridge on the Long Michelson Interferometer.

In 1964 he was appointed Professor of Radio Astronomy the University of Manchester and in 1981 director of the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, part of the University of Manchester at Jodrell Bank. He was also Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory from 1975 to 1981.

He appeared in Episode 13 of Series 4 of Treasure Hunt when the show visited Jodrell Bank, giving presenter Anneka Rice a piggy back to allow her to reach a clue.[4]

Bibliography

  • Optics (1971)
  • Pathways to the Universe (1988)
  • Pulsar Astronomy (1990)
  • An Introduction to Radio Astronomy (1997)
  • Unseen Cosmos (2013)
  • Eyes on the Sky (2016)

Personal life

Graham-Smith is an avid bee-keeper and kept up this hobby well into his 90s, looking after the hives at Jodrell Bank. He also inspired the creation of the St Andrews Amateur Beekeeping Society.[5]

He lived with his wife Elizabeth in the Old School House in Henbury, Cheshire, from 1981 until her death in 2021. They had met when they were both working with Martin Ryle in 1945-6 in Cambridge in the early days of radio astronomy.[6]

He celebrated his 100th birthday on 25 April 2023.[7]

Honours

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1970 [1] and was awarded their Royal Medal in 1987.

He was president of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1975 to 1977.

He was the thirteenth Astronomer Royal from 1982 to 1990.

He won the Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize in 1991.

Patronage

Sir Francis Graham-Smith is a Distinguished Supporter of Humanists UK[8] is the President of Macclesfield Astronomical Society and is a patron of Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society.

Lectures

In 1965 he was invited to co-deliver the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture on Exploration of the Universe.

References

  1. ^ a b "Francis Graham-Smith | Royal Society". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Sir Francis Graham Smith". Rossall School. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ rp441 (1 July 2016). "Sir Francis Graham-Smith". Downing College Cambridge. Retrieved 5 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Treasure Hunt S04e13 @ Cheshire, retrieved 5 July 2021[dead YouTube link]
  5. ^ Neale, Angus (11 October 2018). "Waxing Lyrical". The Saint. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Lady Elizabeth Graham- Smith". www.henbury.org. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Happy 100th Birthday, Sir Francis!". The University of Manchester. 25 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Sir Francis Graham-Smith, FRS, FRAS, F Inst P". Humanists UK. Retrieved 5 July 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Graham Smith.


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