Abraham Sharp

Abraham Sharp has now finally returned home to the Bradford area and is now in residence at

The Star Centre, after years wandering around the York area under the watchful eyes of the York Astronomical Society. A Bradford born astronomer and mathematician is now extending his influence over the young astronomers in and around Keighley.

Abraham Sharp was born in 1653 in Horton Hall in Little Horton, Bradford Yorkshire, first formal education was in the village school in Little Horton, and then he attended Bradford Grammar School.

He worked at the Royal Observatory Greenwich for some months during 1684-5 as assistant and instrument maker to John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal. He remained in contact with Flamsteed from 1685 to 1688 during which time he continued to live in London. During his time in London he was friendly with the mathematicians frequenting the London coffee houses.

At the Royal Observatory, Sharp produced eclipse data, tables of the motions of Jupiter's satellites and assisted Flamsteed in the construction of instruments. In particular he engraved the scale on a great mural arc, 6 feet 9 inches in radius, and did other work on the instrument, which served Flamsteed for 30 years, and was one of the finest astronomical instruments in Europe.

In 1690 Sharp taught mathematics as the resident mathematician of William Court at the Mariner and Anchor on Little Tower Hill in London. He only did this for a few months for, in February 1691, he accepted the offer of the position of clerk at the King's shipyard at Portsmouth. During the time he worked in Portsmouth he also taught mathematics and continued to use his skills as an instrument maker. In 1693 his eldest brother died and he received a request from his widow to return to Horton Hall, which he did in 1694. There he became known as a patron of the first Presbyterian chapel in Bradford.

Sharp still corresponded with Flamsteed, subjects discussed by Sharp in his letters include mathematical and astronomical books, astronomical calculations, the aurora borealis, other observations, instruments, and the printing of Flamsteed's works. He was still interested in optical instruments, but his eyesight was deteriorating.

In 1717 Sharp published Geometry Improved. This was an interesting book containing tables and a treatise on polyhedra. He had a love for constructing polyhedra and in the book he gives precise instructions in how to form such polyhedra starting from a cube of wood. All the dimensions are given with great accuracy, between 15 and 20 decimal place accuracy.

Abraham Sharp's Polyhedra

Abraham Sharp died 18 July 1742 in Little Horton, Bradford and in the Bradford Cathedral there is a tablet-commemorating Sharp. An English translation of the Latin inscription reads:-

He was rightly counted among the most accomplished mathematicians of his day. He enjoyed constant friendship with the very famous men of the same repute, notably Flamsteed and the illustrious Newton. He drew up the description of the heavens made by the former of these (Flamsteed) in (astronomical) tables of the greatest accuracy; he also published anonymously various writings and descriptions of instruments perfected by himself... .

Abraham Sharp is now being honoured within the Star Centre; and has been giving the role of looking after the 8'' Newtonian Telescope, a scope devised by one of his friends Sir Isaac Newton. The Star Centre is now keeping the memory of Abraham Sharp a Bradford born astronomer and mathematician alive and aims to promote his awareness to the public.