Born Smedley near Manchester, England, 19 April 1815
Died Birkdale (Mersey), England, 7 October 1887
Joseph Baxendell, an astronomer and meteorologist, is noted for his pioneering work on solar–terrestrial relationships, and studies of variable stars, of which he discovered 18. His work typifies that of the devotee so prominent before the professionalization of science.
Baxendell was the eldest of the eight children (six sons and two daughters) born to Thomas Baxendell, a self‐made man who farmed at Smedley. His mother (néeMary Shepley), is said to have had a strong love of astronomy, and it is possible that Joseph's interest in science dates back to her influence. This inclination was further encouraged by Thomas Walley. Joseph received his early education at his school at Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Here he proved himself a rapid learner, and demonstrated his aptitude for mathematics. Baxendell does not appear to have devoted much time to experimental enquiry, but did so in his...
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Selected References
Anon. (10 October 1887). “Obituary.” Manchester Guardian.
Anon. (1887). “Obituary.” Nature 20 October: 585.
Anon. (1888). “Joseph Baxendell.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 48: 157–160.
B. S. (1888). “Joseph Baxendell.” Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 43: iv–vi.
Baxendell, Joseph (1848). “On the Variability of λ Tauri.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 9: 37–38.
——— (1871). “On Solar Radiation.” Memoirs of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society 4: 128, 147.
——— (1872). “On a Periodic Change in the Magnetic Condition of the Earth and the Distribution of Temperature over its Surface.” Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society 5: 251–260.
Bottomley, James. “Memoir of the late Joseph Baxendell, F. R. S., F. R. A. S.” Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. 4th ser., 1: 28–58.
Kargon, Robert H. (1977). Science in Victorian Manchester. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
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Baum, R. (2007). Baxendell, Joseph. In: Hockey, T., et al. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30400-7_125
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