OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 7

OBITUARY.

SIR ROBERT BALL, ASTRONOMER. By Telegraph—Press Associntion-Copyrieht London, November 25. 'J'ho deatli is announced of Sir Robert Ball, of Cambridge. Sir Robert Ball was born in Dublin on Jul}- 1, 1810. He was Ihe son of the well-known naturalist, after whom be was named. From his earliest years he took a great interest in natural science, and was still in his- teens when astronomy became his chief hobby. Ho was educated at Abbott's Grange, Chester, and at Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1892 was appointed Director of the Cambridgo Observatory and a Fellow of King's College. He held the position of Royal Astronomer of Ireland, 1871-02, and was the scientific advisor to the Commissioners of Trish Lights from 1881. He was at various times president of several astronomical and qthor societies—the most: important being—The Royal Astronomical Society, die Royal Zoological Society, and the Mathematical Society, no wrote a number of books on .astronomy. "Tho Story of the Heavens" and "The Story of the Sun" are among the best known, and. these being written in a style unencumbered with a mass of technicalities, were well received by (lie general nubile. "In Starry Realms" and "In the Hindi Heavens" are likewise bank- Hint can lie enjoyed by amateur ii-dionomers as well as by professors. Sir I,'obert also has to his credit many lrenli-es on mathematical and physical subject*. Sir Robert. Hall, who in ISfiS married Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. W. 10. Steel. M.D., Director of the Science and Art Museum at Dublin, leaves four sons and two daughters.