William Hirst ( - ? 1769 )

Death: His ship was lost at sea after leaving the Cape of Good Hope (December 1769) Profession: Clergyman, Church of England Research Field: Astronomy Education: School at Hertford; Peterhouse, Cambridge; BA (1751), MA (1754) Career: Navy chaplain; Present at the sieges of Pondicherry and Vellore; Sailed to Lisbon after the earthquake (1755); Observed the transit of Venus at Government House, Madras (1761); Chaplain to the factory at Calcutte (1762-1764); Assistant to Nevile Maskelyne at Greenwich for transit of Venus (1769); Chaplain to the Commission of theHEIC to Bengal (1769); he was on board a frigate which left the Cape of Good Hope on 27 Dec 1769 and was never heard of again Membership: Fellow Election Date: 20/02/1755.