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People: Joseph Garnett


Name Garnett, Joseph
 
Place of work Greenwich
 
Employment dates
 01 Jul 1793 – 23 May 1794
 


Posts Assistant




Born 1772

 


Died 1861, Dec 14

 


Greenwich Observatory, Joseph Garnett

Joseph Garnett. From The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and Legend, London (1890)

Born in Alnwick of humble parents, Joseph Garnett was appointed as Assistant by Nevil Maskelyne in 1793 in succession to Benedict Chapman. He was succeeded in 1794 by David Kinnebrook. Garnett resigned ‘owing to an affection of his eyes’ and moved to Newcastle. As well as his regular pay as assistant, he was paid an additional sum by the Board of Longitude ‘for winding up & comparing the late Mr Emmery’s watches’ (Click here to view details of this payment). While at the Observatory, ‘he designed and completed a new semaphore for the purpose of signalling astronomical messages’ of which he was very proud, a supposedly similar arrangement by Sir Home Popham was later adopted by the Admiralty.

In Newcastle, Garnett started in business as chemist and druggist, making a considerable amount of money. Despite this, he lived above the shop and never married. He was an able musician and also composed. On his death, he left over £6,000 to various medical and other charities. He is buried in All Saints’ Church, Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

Further Reading

Joseph Garnett. From The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and Legend. London (1890)