Astronomer Royal

Astronomer Royal was originally the title of the director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but since 1972 it has simply been an honorary title.

John Flamsteed became the first Astronomer Royal when the Royal Greenwich Observatory was founded in 1675. The complete list of Astronomers Royal is given in the table below.

 John Flamsteed                1675 - 1719
 Edmond Halley                 1720 - 1742
 James Bradley                 1742 - 1762
 Nathaniel Bliss[?]               1762 - 1764
 Nevil Maskelyne               1765 - 1811
 John Pond[?]                     1811 - 1835
 George Biddell Airy           1835 - 1881
 William H. M. Christie[?]        1881 - 1910
 Frank Watson Dyson[?]            1910 - 1933
 Harold Spencer Jones[?]          1933 - 1955
 Richard van der Riet Woolley[?]  1956 - 1971
 Martin Ryle[?]                   1972 - 1982
 Francis Graham Smith[?]          1982 - 1990
 Arnold Wolfendale[?]             1991 - 1995
 Martin Rees[?]                   1995 -