Rule (detail)

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This is a detail of a brass rule made around 1750, probably by Jonathon Sisson of London. It was owned by William Galbraith (1786-1850), an early-19th-century Edinburgh teacher of Mathematics.

This detail shows the inscription at the end of the rule. It reads 'William Galbraith / Edinr.' Galbraith made an accurate survey of the west coast of Scotland, and lobbied for the trigonometrical survey to be resumed. He taught mathematics, natural philosophy and navigation between 1819 and 1845.

After the death of William Galbraith, the rule was in the personal possession of J. D. Forbes, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-067-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1984.59
• Date: Around 1750
  c. 1750
  
• Material: Scale
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Scale
  
• Subject:
• Who: J. Sifson (Inscribed on the scale)
  J. Sisson, London (Maker)
  William Galbraith (Inscribed on the scale)
  
• Where: England, London
  England, London
  Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Brass scale, inscribed 'William Galbraith / Edinr', by J. Sisson, London, c. 1750
  
• References:
  • For Galbraith, see obituary in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 11 (1851), pp 86-90 and Clarke, T.N., Morrison-Low, A.D. & Simpson, A.D.C. Brass & glass scientific instrument making workshops in Scotland as illustrated by instruments from 
  • For Sisson, see Clifton, Gloria, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851. London: 1995, p 253 
  • Stanley ,William Ford, A descriptive treatise on mathematical drawing instruments. New York & London: 1878, pp 215-9 
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