247 



©bttuari?* 



The late Edwin Dunkin, F.E.S,, and President of tlie 

 Institution during the years 1890-1, was the third son of William 

 and Mary Elizabeth Dunkin, and was born at Truro, 19th 

 August, 1821, and baptised at St Mary's Church 9th September 

 following. His father, William Dunkin, was a Cornishman by 

 birth, and was engaged for many years on the staff of the 

 "Nautical Almanac." His mother was the youngest daughter 

 of David Wise, of Eedruth, surgeon, and an aunt of the Eev. 

 Canon Wise, of Ladock, whose liberality to the Cathedral and 

 its building fund wiU not soon be forgotten by the people of 

 Truro. 



Mr. Dunkin was educated at private schools at Truro and 

 Camden Town, and finally he was sent to a school at Guines, 

 near Calais, to obtain a proficiency in the French language. 

 Through the interest of his father's old friend, Davies Gilbert, 

 F.E.S., and Lieut. W. 8. Stratford, the Superintendent of the 

 "Nautical Almanac," Mr. Dunkin was introduced to the 

 Astronomer Eoyal, at Greenwich, and on 21st August, 1838, he 

 entered upon his duties at the Eoyal Observatory. In 1840 he 

 was appointed to assist in the work of the new Magnetical and 

 Meteorological Department, but in October, 1845, he was 

 transferred to the Astronomical Department, and from 1847 to 

 1870 he had the superintendence of the altazimuth and of all 

 the calculations connected therewith. In 1870 he was intrusted 

 with the general control of the reductions of all the astronomical 

 observations in the Observatory, a post he continued to occupy 

 until the retirement of the Astronomer Eoyal, Sir George 

 BiddeU Airy, in 1881. The office of chief assistant then 

 becoming vacant by the promotion of Mr. Christie to that of 

 Astronomer Eoyal, Mr Dunkin was promoted to that responsible 

 position, which he held until his retirement on 25th August, 

 1884. 



