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    Re: Makeover for Maskelyne
    From: Robin Stuart
    Date: 2019 Jan 19, 06:04 -0800

    Marcelo,

            Thank you for posting this. It answers my request for the source of statements about Masleyne made here and may have been where I originally read it. The article contains a couple of revealing statements

    "As Astronomer Royal, Maskelyne was ineligible for the prize."

    "Even while the Harrisons were accusing him of what amounted to corruption, he recommended William for election to the Royal Society."

    which pretty much demolishes the preception that Dava Sobel's book "Longitude" gives that the story is

    “As much a tale of intrigue as it is of science…not the least--plain old human ambition and greed.” ―Philadelphia Inquirer

    For a much more balanced assessment of Maskelyne's very significant contributions and character I recommend

    Higgitt, R. ed. (2014). Maskelyne: Astronomer Royal. Royal Museums Greenwich, London

    Thanks again for posting,

    Robin Stuart

       
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