Charles Green (astronomer)

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Charles Green (born December 1735 in Swinton near Rotherham , South Yorkshire , England, † January 29, 1771 on the journey from Batavia to the Cape of Good Hope ) was a British astronomer .

From 1760 he was assistant to the astronomer Royal James Bradley at the Greenwich Observatory and also served his successor Nathaniel Bliss . He was supposed to also work for Nevil Maskelyne when he was appointed Astronomer Royal after Bliss' death in March 1765 . Green preferred to take on the post of ship paymaster.

Finally, on Maskelyne's recommendation, he was to take part in James Cook's first South Seas voyage with Joseph Banks for the Royal Society in 1768 . His task was to measure the transit of Venus on June 3, 1769 from Otaheite . Green died of dysentery on the way home from Batavia after 12 days at sea .

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