James Bradley D.D. (1692 - 1762)

Born 1692 in Sherborne, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Susanna (Peach) Bradley — married 25 Jun 1744 in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England

Died 13 Jul 1762 at about age 70 in Chalford, Gloucestershire, England

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Biography

James Bradley D.D. is Notable.

James Bradley was third Astronomer Royal from 1742. He is best known for two fundamental discoveries in astronomy, the aberration of light (an astronomical phenomenon which produces an apparent motion of celestial objects about their real locations) and the nutation, or movement, of the Earth's axis.^[1]

"We may in fact salute James Bradley, on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death, as the greatest astronomer who has ever held the office of Astronomer Royal in nearly three centuries" - Sir Richard Woolley, 1963.^[2]

James Bradley was born in 1692 at Sherborne, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, to William Bradley and Jane Pound.
He was baptised James, son of William and Jane Bradley on 3 October 1692 in Sherborne, Gloucestershire.^[3]

He enrolled in Balliol College, Oxford, in 1711 with the intent of becoming a minister, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1714 and a M.A degree in 1717.
Bradley was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on 6 November 1718.
He became vicar of Bridstow in Herefordshire in 1719.
He resigned his ecclesiastical preferments in 1721, when appointed to the Savilian chair of astronomy at Oxford.
Between 1725 and 1726 he worked with Samuel Molyneux, at Kew, England, where he observed the apparent displacement of Gamma Draconis (a star in the constellation Draco) when he measured its distance to the Earth, leading him to discover the aberration of light.
From 1727 he conducted observations of the Earth's moon, from which he discovered nutation of the Earth's axis.
As reader on experimental philosophy from 1729 to 1760, he delivered 79 courses of lectures at the Ashmolean Museum.
In 1742, Bradley was appointed to succeed Edmond Halley as Astronomer Royal.
Bradley retired in broken health, nine years later, to Chalford in Gloucestershire.
^[1][4]

Marriage: He married Susannah Peach at Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire on 25 June 1744. The parish register recorded: "Dr James Bradley & Mrs Susannah Peach".^[5] His biographies usually state that Susannah was a daughter of Mr Samuel Peach of Chalford in in Minchinhampton, however she was probably a daughter in law (see Research Notes below). She died in 1757 leaving a daughter Susannah born at Greenwich in 1745 who in 1771 married the Rev. Samuel Peach, and their only daughter died childless in 1806.^[6]

Death: James Bradley died at the house of Samuel Peach, Skiveralls House, in Chalford in the parish of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire on 13 July 1762. Samuel Peach was incorrectly[?] referred to as his "father-in-law" in his biographies.^[7]

He was buried at the parish churchyard in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire.^[4]

The church has a brass plaque with an inscription in Latin which has been translated:

"Here lies buried James Bradley, D.D., Member of the Royal Societies of London, Paris, Berlin, and Petersburg ; Astronomer Royal ; Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford ; a man highly esteemed for his knowledge of philosophy, especially in the investigation of abstruse points ; so successfully diligent, and of such great wisdom, that those of every nation who devoted themselves to those pursuits freely owned his superiority : and at the same time of such rare modesty, that he alone seemed ignorant of the high reputation in which he was held by the most competent judges. He died 12 July, 1702, aged 70."^[8][9]

He wrote his will in 1761: "James Bradley of Greenwich in the County of Kent. D.D.". It was proved on 1 September 1762. ^[10]

Research Notes

James Bradley in his will of 1761 wrote: "Samuel Peach of Chalford in the parish of Minchinhampton, clothier and Mary his wife my sister-in-law". This implies that James Bradley's wife Susanna was the sister of Samuel Peach's wife Mary. More precisely, she was probably the widow of a brother of Mary Peach, because she was referred to as "Mrs Susanna Peach" in their marriage registration. I have not been able to find more about this branch of the Peach family - if anyone has more information I would appreciate it if they could contact me - Heather

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Wikipedia contributors, "James Bradley," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Bradley&oldid=1024618339 (accessed May 25, 2021).]
2. ↑ Woolley, R., Sir, "Bradley, James; Third Astronomer Royal.", Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 4, p.47 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1963QJRAS...4...47W
3. ↑ Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813 for James Bradley Sherborne 1570-1812 (Bishop's Transcripts) https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/4732/images/43137_636897_2391-00083?pId=14529675
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87238107/james-bradley : accessed 26 May 2021), memorial page for James Bradley (Mar 1693–13 Mar 1762), Find a Grave Memorial ID 87238107, citing Holy Trinity Churchyard, Minchinhampton, Stroud District, Gloucestershire, England ; Maintained by Find A Grave .
5. ↑ Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813 for Susannah Peach, Minchinhampton 1720-1750 https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/4732/images/41511_626640_4075-00139?pId=4924472
6. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, p.1078
7. ↑ Date of death is 13 July 1762 in Dictionary of National Biography, however it is 12 July 1762 in England & Wales, Calendar of the Principal Ecclesiastical Dignitaries, 314-1853
8. ↑ Joseph Stratford. Gloucestershire biographical notes online (Originally published 1887) https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/joseph-stratford/gloucestershire-biographical-notes-ala/page-10-gloucestershire-biographical-notes-ala.shtml
9. ↑ The original Latin inscription is in Ralph Bigland, Historical, monumental and genealogical collections relative to the county of Gloucester, 4 volumes, edited and indexed by Brian Frith, M.B.E., Publisher: Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeology Society Publications 1989, p.657. (SAG Sydney NSW Call No: N7.14/11/2)
10. ↑ England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for James Bradley, PROB 11: Will Registers 1757-1762 Piece 879: St. Eloi, Quire Numbers 344-393 (1762) https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/5111/images/40611_309770-00417?pId=520255

• Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22, p.1074 https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/6892/images/6892-2-6-8-1090?pId=3754
• Bradley; James (1693 - 1762), Past Fellows of The Royal Society https://catalogues.royalsociety.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=NA8376&pos=4
• James Bradley and Stephen Peter Rigaud. Miscellaneous Works and Correspondence of the Rev. James Bradley, Oxford, 1832 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1vReAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP13#v=onepage&q&f=false
• James Bradley and Stephen Peter Rigaud. Supplement to Dr. Bradley’s Miscellaneous Works, Oxford, 1833 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=J6oNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false