Samuel Molyneux, Former MP for the University of Dublin Collapses in the British House of Commons and Dies

  • April 13, 1728

Samuel Molyneux FRS (16 July 1689 – 13 April 1728) was an amateur astronomer and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1715 and 1728 and in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1728. His work with James Bradley attempting to measure stellar parallax led to the discovery of the aberration of light. The aberration was the first definite evidence that the earth moved and that Copernicus and Kepler were correct.

In addition to his astronomical works, Molyneux wrote about the natural history and other features of Ireland.

He died in suspicious circumstances.

comments powered by Disqus