The Observer Priests: Stonyhurst Observatory, 1846-1919

Abstract

This thesis presents and combines detailed information upon the characters, lives and activities of three Jesuit priest scientists at Stonyhurst Observatory (England) during the 19th century, with research into the historical and contemporary context surrounding Jesuit scientific activity in order to understand why the three priests, Frs. Weld, Perry and Sidgreaves, were able to succeed as scientists during the height of secularisation in the sciences. This is done using contemporary secondary accounts, modern scholarship and primary material from the subjects themselves, and concluded by putting forward the argument that much of the priests’ scientific success was due to their position as priests, rather than despite it.