MDMD2: The Astronomer Royal

[Dave Monroe]

"To Mr. Mason, Assistant to the Astronomer Royal,
At Greenwich" (M&D, Ch. 2, p. 12)

Okay, I've been depserately trying to log back on
again ever since posting this, one of those
head-slapping moments segueing into anxiety
attack/phyical illness ...

The Astronomer Royal here, is, of course, NOT the
Reverend Nevil Maskelyne, but, rather, the Reverend 
James Bradley (1673-1762) ...
 
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?exhibit=it3368z&axis=959778107&flash=false

The THIRD person (okay, man ...) to hold the title ...

http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/leaflets/astron_royal/astron_royal.html

That Charles Mason is NOT named the successor to
Bradley's successor, the Reverend Nathaniel Bliss
(1700-64) ...

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?exhibit=it3369z&axis=959778107&flash=false

... becomes, of course, an issue in Pynchon's novel. 
The rest of this, however, still holds ...

> Holding that title by virtue of being Director of
> the Royal Greenwich Observatory ("At Greenwich") ...
> 
> http://www.rog.nmm.ac.uk/
> 
> And, of course, a Fellow of the Royal Society ...
> 
> http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/
> 
> http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/royalsoc/rshist.htm

And, at any rate, see also here ...

http://www.hyperarts.com/pynchon/mason-dixon/extra/maskelyne_bio.html

A thousand pardons, ev'ryone.  The hazards of being in
a hurry here.  Think it's time for a break, will be
back later on Ch. 2 et al. ...

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