Astronomer Royal

Formerly the title of the director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in the UK but, since 1972, an honorary title bestowed on a distinguished astronomer who is not necessarily the director of the Royal Observatory. Astronomers Royal James Bradley 1742-62 Nathaniel Bliss 1762-64 Nevil Maskelyne 1765-1811 John Pond 1811-35 Sir George Biddell Airy 1835-81 Sir William Christie 1881-1910 Sir Frank Watson Dyson 1910-33 Sir Harold Spencer Jones 1933-55 Sir Richard Woolley 1956-71 Sir Martin Ryle 1972-82 Sir Francis Graham-Smith 1982-90 Sir Arnold Wolfendale 1991-95 Sir Martin Rees 1995-