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SCIENTISTS OF THE NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND 123 
instruments that was of inestimable advantage to him in later life. An 
invitation, however, from Lord Lindsay to Gill to become the super- 
intendent of the newly established private observatory at Dunecht in 
Aberdeenshire proved too strong, and after a few years in business he 
severed his connection with his father’s firm. An expedition to Mauritius 
in 1874~75 to observe the transit of Venus brought Gill’s organising 
ability and observing skill to the notice of the astronomical world, and it 
became clear that his services could not be retained for long at Dunecht. 
In 1877 he led an expedition to Ascension to observe the opposition of 
Mars, the object of which was to obtain the necessary information for 
making an accurate determination of the sun’s distance. Gill’s work with 
his heliometer in this expedition excited the admiration of astronomers 
all over the world. In 1879 he was appointed His Majesty’s Astronomer 
at the Cape of Good Hope, and it was there he built up his international 
reputation as an astronomer of distinction. During his period as Director 
he transformed the badly equipped observatory into a magnificent 
institution with the finest observing instruments in the world. In 1907, 
the year of his Presidency of the British Association, he retired and 
devoted himself to astronomical work and to the task of completing his 
book, The History and Description of the Cape Observatory. He died 
on January 24, 1914, and was buried in Old Machar Churchyard, 
Aberdeen, 
