Edward Joshua Cooper ( 1798 - 1863 )

Birth: Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland (May 1798) Death: Markree Castle, Collooney, Sligo, Ireland (23 April 1863) Research Field: Astronomy Education: Schooled at Armagh; Eton College; Christ Church, Oxford (did not complete degree) Career: Toured Persia and Turkey (1820-1821) and Egypt, Scandinavia (1824-1825); took over family estates at Markree Castle and built an astronomical observatory; MP for Sligo (1830-1841, 1857-1859);assisted in observations byAndrew Graham (1842 - 1860) discovering new minor planet, Metis and measuring approximate positions of 60 066 stars, only 8 965 of which were previously known; on recommendation of the Royal Society work published by the government in four volumes as 'Catalogue of Stars near the Ecliptic, Observed at Markree' (1851-1856); awarded Cunnigham Medal of the Royal Irish Academy; Honorary LLD, University of Dublin (1863); Memberships: MRIA 1832 Membership: Fellow Election Date: 2/06/1853.