Joseph Mendoza y Rios ( ? 1762 - ? 1815 )

Birth: Parish of St Vincent, Seville, Spain (15 September 1762, 1763 or 1764) Death: Brighton, Sussex (03 March 1815 or 1816) Research Field: Mathematics, nautical astronomy Career: Entered the Royal Navy as Frigate Ensign (1776), promoted until rank of Commodore (1794); served on the warship "Oriente"; sailed on the "Santa Ines" when it was captured by English privateers (1779); imprisoned for a year in Cork, Ireland; returned to Cadiz (1780); commanded merchant ship "Rosario" (1782); aide-de-Camp to the Douke of Crillon; assistant harbour master, Cadiz; sent on a mission abroad to collect maps and other works to form a library for the Navy (1789); on his return was cashiered without pay, rank or uniform (1800); settled in England; invented astronomical and nautical instruments; persecution by the Spanish government, and domestic troubles, led him to hang himself Membership: Fellow Election Date: 11/04/1793.