Person

Biggs, Alfred Barrett (1825 - 1900)

Born
10 April 1825
London, England
Died
19 December 1900
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation
Inventor, Teacher and Astronomer

Summary

Alfred Biggs was a teacher, instrument maker, inventor, and pioneer in astronomy, seismology and telecommunications in Tasmania. From 1845 to 1852 he was a schoolteacher in Tasmania, then in Melbourne 1852-1863 and again back in Tasmania 1863-1880. After he moved to Launceston in 1880 as a bank officer, he established an observatory there, recording observations and measurements. He also constructed and trialled a telephone connection between Launceston and Campbell Town, and built a siesmometer.

Details

Chronology

1884
Career event - Fellow, Royal Society of Tasmania
1888 -
Career event - Original [founding] member, Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

Archives Office of Tasmania

  • Alfred Barrett Biggs - Records, 1845 - 1900, NS 984; Archives Office of Tasmania. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Giordano, Margaret, Watcher of the skies: the story of Alfred Barrett Biggs, pioneer in astronomy, seismology and telecommunications (Launceston, Tas.: Regal Publications, 1995), 124 pp. Details
  • Orchiston, Wayne, Alfred Barrett Biggs and Amateur Astronomy in Tasmania (Perth: NACAA, 1983), 97-110 pp. Details

Book Sections

  • George, Martin, 'Biggs, Alfred Barrett (1825-1900), Teacher, Bank Officer, Astronomer and Inventor' in Australian dictionary of biography: supplement 1580 - 1980, with a name index to the Australian dictionary of biography to 1980, Christopher Cunneen, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2005), p. 31. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/AS10039b.htm. Details
  • Orchiston, Wayne, 'The Astronomical Activities of Alfred Barrett Biggs of Launceston'.' in Earth Tremors: proceedings of a seminar commemorating the centenary of instrumental seismology in Australia, J. L. Perdix, ed. (Launceston, Tasmania: Royal Society of Tasmania, 1983), pp. 11-27. Details

Journal Articles

  • Orchiston, Wayne, 'The Contribution of Alfred Barrett Biggs to Australian and Tasmanian Astronomy', Records of the Queen Victoria Museum, 89 (1985), 1-28. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes

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