Fearon Fallows, the first Astronomer Royal at the Cape, is born

Fearon Fallows, the first Astronomer Royal at the Cape, was born to John and Rebecca Fallows on 4 July 1789 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in England. He spent his spare time studying, especially subjects like mathematics, and at the early age of 19 he became an assistant at a school. He went on to further his studies at St. John's College in Cambridge where he became a teacher. On 26 October 1813, Fallows was chosen to be the principal astronomer at the newly established, but yet to be constructed, observatory at the Cape of Good Hope.    Together with his six crew men Fallows arrived in the Cape of Good Hope on 21 August 1821. He investigated possible sites and after choosing one the construction of the observatory began in 1825. Fallows organised the building of the facilities and he also set up the first instruments. The main building of the observatory was completed in 1828 but Fallows was unable to take advantage of the new facilities due to illness. After a long battle with scarlet fever he died in Simon's Town on 25 July 1831. Fallows was buried at the Royal Observatory. References: Anon, (n.d.), ‘Fearon Fallows, first Astronomer Royal at the Cape, is born in England’from South African History Online [online] Available at www.sahistory.org.za[Accessed: 30 June 2011] Anon, (n.d.), ‘Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope’from ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA [online] Available at www.assa.saao.ac.za[Accessed: 30 June 2011] Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970) Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Cape Town: NASOU, v. 4, p. 424