The spring of order: Robert Main’s management of astronomical labor at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

During the early nineteenth century the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, significantly increased the number of individuals it employed. One of the new roles created was the position of First Assistant, who oversaw the management of astronomical labor at the observatory. This article examines the contri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:History of science 2022-12, Vol.60 (4), p.575-593
Main Author: Belteki, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy - history
Humans
Labor
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:During the early nineteenth century the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, significantly increased the number of individuals it employed. One of the new roles created was the position of First Assistant, who oversaw the management of astronomical labor at the observatory. This article examines the contribution of Robert Main, who was the first person employed in this role. It shows that, through Robert Main’s duties and tasks, the observatory appears as a hybrid site embodying aspects of the other institutions that formed part of its operational network. Moreover, it demonstrates that the transformation of the observatory during the nineteenth century was driven by his rigorous maintenance of discipline in relation to the daily operations of the site.
ISSN:0073-2753
1753-8564
DOI:10.1177/00732753211028434