Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory. A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints.
Today’s guestbook entry is from April 8, 1910, when three notable Dunediners–George Chrystal, P. Hume Brown, and John Sutherland Black–made a visit.
George Chrystal (1851-1911)Next to his name, George Chrystal FRSE, FRS (1851-1911) wrote “Prof. Math. Univ. Edinb.” (Professor of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh). He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society. His work on seiches (standing waves in ponds and other enclosed bodies of water) earned him a posthumous Gold Medal from the Royal Society of London. He was a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh as well as the Royal Society of London. He is also known for having written several books on algebra.
Peter Hume Brown (1849-1918)Next to his name, Peter Hume Brown FBA (1849-1918) wrote “Historiographer-Royal, Edinburgh.” He published a definitive three-volume history of Scotland in 1898, and in 1901 became the first professor of Scottish history at the University of Edinburgh. He established Scottish history as a significant academic discipline, and worked to distinguish it from English history.
Next to his name, John Sutherland Black FRSE LLD (1846-1923) wrote simply, “Edinburgh.” He was a biblical scholar and an amateur astronomer. He co-edited the Encyclopaedia Biblica (1899). He also contributed entries for the the Dictionary of National Biography (1901) and the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911), serving as assistant editor for that publication as well. He was Curator of Records at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
