Pritchard , Charles , 1808-1893 , astronomer

Charles Pritchard was born in Shropshire and brought up in London. He entered St John's College, Cambridge, in 1826, graduating BA in 1830 and MA in 1833. He was briefly (1833-1834) headmaster of Stockwell Grammar School before becoming head of the new Clapham Grammar School (1834-1862). After living on the Isle of Wight for several years, he became Savilian professor of astronomy at the University of Oxford in 1870, where he pioneered the use of stellar photography. Pritchard was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of several other learned societies, and received several honours from both Oxford and Cambridge universities. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1834 and lectured widely on both religious and scientific subjects.