ABSTRACT
Thomas Archer Hirst (1830–1892) is best known for his extensive diaries, chronicling Victorian science over 45 years and describing in great detail his meetings and friendships with mathematicians and scientists from Britain and the Continent. While President of the London Mathematical Society, a Vice-President of the Royal Society of London, and a member of the famous ‘X-club’, he was appointed the first Director of Studies of the newly formed Royal Naval College at Greenwich, housed in Christopher Wren’s magnificent buildings of 1694.
In this chapter we summarize his earlier life, describe his appointment at Greenwich, and outline the successes and failures of the College’s first few years during the period of his Directorship activities at a time of the declining illhealth that led partly to his resignation from the post after 10 years. We also comment on Hirst’s frustrated attempts to maintain his mathematical research.
