William Christie (astronomer)

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William Christie

Born October 1, 1845(1845-10-01)
Died January 22, 1922 (aged 76)
At sea near Gibraltar
Nationality United Kingdom
Fields Astronomy
Alma mater King's College London
Trinity College, Cambridge
Known for Astronomer Royal

Sir William Henry Mahoney Christie FRS (October 1, 1845January 22, 1922) was a British astronomer.

Educated at King's College London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was fourth wrangler in 1868 and was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1869.

Having been Chief Assistant at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich from 1870 to 1881, he was appointed to replace George Airy as Astronomer Royal in 1881 and remained in office until 1910. The first Astronomer Royal to retire at 65 (all previous incumbents bar Airy and John Pond had died in office; John Pond had been forced to resign in 1835 while Airy retired aged 81), Christie died and was buried at sea near Gibraltar in 1922.

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