Flamsteed appointed as first Astronomer Royal In 1674, King Charles II learned that the French were getting close to solving the problem of determining longitude at sea.[1] The King’s desire to beat the French to a solution spurred him on to appoint his own royal astronomer. In 1675, he appointed the English astronomer John Flamsteed to the newly created post of Astronomer Royal. Within six months of appointing Flamsteed, on 22 June 1675, Charles issued a warrant to initiate construction of a royal observatory, and founded the Royal Observatory at Greenwich that same year. With the help of Jonas Moore, Sir Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke and Thomas Tompion, Flamstead planned and carried out the construction of the new observatory. Although the team had little money with which to pay for and furnish the building, they worked with great speed, and the main structure was completed in July 1676. Flamsteed began making astronomical observations there that same year. End Note [1] Carter 2021, 102–103. Reference Carter, J. 2021. The John C Taylor Collection: Part I (Selling Exhibition Catalogue, Carter Marsh & Co). Winchester: Carter Marsh & Co.
