CHAPTER I. Personal Sketch of George Biddell Airy CHAPTER II. From his birth to his taking his B.A. Degree at Cambridge CHAPTER III. At Trinity College, Cambridge, from his taking his B.A. Degree to his taking charge of the Cambridge Observatory as Plumian Professor CHAPTER IV. At Cambridge Observatory, from his taking charge of the Cambridge Observatory to his residence at Greenwich Observatory as Astronomer Royal CHAPTER V. At Greenwich Observatory, 1836-1846 CHAPTER VI. At Greenwich Observatory, 1846-1856 CHAPTER VII. At Greenwich Observatory, 1856-1866 CHAPTER VIII. At Greenwich Observatory, 1866-1876 CHAPTER IX. At Greenwich Observatory, from January 1st, 1876, to his resignation of office on August 15th, 1881 CHAPTER X. At the White House, Greenwich, from his resignation of office on August 15th, 1881, to his death on January 2nd, 1892 APPENDIX. List of Printed Papers by G.B. Airy, and List of Books written by G.B. Airy INDEX. CHAPTER I. PERSONAL SKETCH OF GEORGE BIDDELL AIRY. The history of Airy's life, and especially the history of his life's work, is given in the chapters that follow. But it is felt that the present Memoir would be incomplete without a reference to those personal characteristics upon which the work of his life hinged and which can only be very faintly gathered from his Autobiography. He was of medium stature and not powerfully built: as he advanced in years he stooped a good deal. His hands were large-boned and well-formed. His constitution was remarkably sound. At no period in his life does he seem to have taken the least interest in athletic sports or competitions, but he was a very active pedestrian and could endure a great deal of fatigue. He was by no means wanting in physical courage, and on various occasions, especially in boating expeditions, he ran considerable risks. In debate and controversy he had great self-reliance, and was absolutely fearless. His eye-sight was peculiar, and required correction by spectacles the lenses of which were ground to peculiar curves according to formulae which he himself investigated: with these spectacles he saw extremely well, and he commonly carried three pairs, adapted to different distances: he took great interest in the changes that took place in his eye-sight, and wrote several Papers on the subject. In his later years he became somewhat deaf, but not to the extent of serious personal inconvenience.