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Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes (13 April 1871 – 15 May 1959) was a South African astronomer, architect and artist, best known for his discovery of periodic comets.

Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes
Born(1871-04-13)13 April 1871
Kinellar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died15 May 1959(1959-05-15) (aged 88)
Cape Town, South Africa
Known forDiscovery of periodic comets
Spouse(s)Louisa Elizabeth Henrietta Crowther
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy, Architecture

Early life and career


Forbes was born in Kinellar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 13 April 1871. His father was an amateur astronomer who lived on the estate "Blairythan" in County Aberdeen[1] belonging to another amateur astronomer, David Gill. Forbes senior had built his own telescope and shared his interest in astronomy with his son.[1][2]

Forbes was educated in Scotland and moved to the Cape Colony, South Africa in 1896. He stayed in Woodstock, Cape Town where he worked as a builder until 1907 when he returned to Scotland to study architecture. He completed his studies in 1909 and became a member of the Institute of Architects. He returned to Cape Town and practiced as an architect there until 1932.[1][2]

In 1912 he participated in a tender for the design of the city of Canberra, Australia and his architectural design was among the initial shortlist of 46 but was not finally chosen.[3]

He lived in Rosebank, Cape Town where he built a 200mm reflecting telescope and a small observatory at his house, Craigie Brae which was in Liesbeek Road.[1][2]

Forbes lectured regularly on astronomical topics. In 1921 he read a paper on "Reflecting telescopes, with practical directions for grinding and figuring the mirror" at the Cape Astronomical Association and in 1927 presented "Satellites and their movements" to the Natal Astronomical Society. He wrote about astronomical instruments for the Journal of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa and notes about his astronomical work for the Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa.[2]


Comet discoveries


Forbes discovered four comets :


Membership & recognition



Personal life


Forbes married Louisa Elizabeth Henrietta Crowther on 18 September 1900 in the Cape Province.[6] He retired to Hermanus in 1932, where he built another observatory at his house "Blairythan" and moved the telescope from Rosebank to Hermanus.[7] He designed the house and crafted all of its doors himself.[7] Here he continued his observations as well as his architectural work and painting. In 1956 he returned to Cape Town owing to ill health[7] and lived with his niece, Mrs. Hewiston[1] until his death in 1959.[2]

In 2009 one of his paintings, Hermanus Coast Line was sold at auction.[8][9]


References


  1. https://assa.saao.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2017/09/Forbes_AFI-obit.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. "Forbes, Mr. Alexander Forbes Irvine (astronomy)". s2a3.org.za. 15 May 1959. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. "An Ideal City? - Competition Shortlist". Canberra City Town Planning. 1912. Archived from the original on 10 May 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. "Comet Medal Awards". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. IOP Publishing. 41 (244): 368. 1929. Bibcode:1929PASP...41..368.. doi:10.1086/123974. ISSN 0004-6280.
  5. "Report of the Comet Medal Committee". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. IOP Publishing. 41 (239): 72. 1929. Bibcode:1929PASP...41...72.. doi:10.1086/123911. ISSN 0004-6280.
  6. "Transcriptions of South African Marriage Entries: British 1820 Settlers to South Africa - FORBES". British 1820 Settlers to South Africa. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. Kleyn, Steve (December 2002). "A F I Forbes of Hermanus" (PDF). Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. 61 (11 & 12): 189–193. Bibcode:2002MNSSA..61..189K. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  8. "Alexander Forbes Irvine FORBES (1871 - 1959) OIL". invaluable.com. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. Ehrmann, Thierry. "Auctions for Painting by Alexander Forbes Irvine FORBES: sold lots by Alexander Forbes Irvine FORBES". Artprice.com. Retrieved 2 August 2019.



На других языках


[de] Alexander F. I. Forbes

Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes (* 13. April 1871 in Kinellar, Aberdeenshire, Schottland; † 15. Mai 1959 in Kapstadt) war ein südafrikanischer Architekt und Amateurastronom schottischer Herkunft.
- [en] Alexander F. I. Forbes

[it] Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes

Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes (Kinellar, 13 aprile 1871 – Città del Capo, 15 maggio 1959) è stato un astronomo sudafricano.



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