James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford

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Caricature by Leslie Ward
Caricature by Leslie Ward
For other persons named James Lindsay, see James Lindsay (disambiguation).

James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres (1847–1913) was a Victorian astronomer, politician, bibliophile and philatelist. A member of the Royal Society, Lindsay was elected president of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1878.

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[edit] Astronomy

Lindsay was interested in astronomy from an early age. Along with his father, he built up a private observatory at Dun Echt, Aberdeenshire. He employed David Gill (astronomer) to equip the observatory, using the best available technology. Among his achievements, Gill later made the first photograph of the Great Comet of 1882[1], pioneering astrophotography and the mapping of the heavens. Lindsay mounted expeditions to Cadiz in 1870, to observe the eclipse of the sun; and then to Mauritius in 1874, to observe the transit of Venus.

Upon hearing of a threat to close down the Edinburgh Royal Observatory,[2] in 1888 Lindsay made a donation of astronomical instruments and his books on mathematics and the physical sciences from Bibliotheca Lindesiana in order that a new observatory could be founded.[3] Thanks to this donation, the new Royal Observatory, Edinburgh was opened on Blackford Hill in 1896.

As well as much astronomical equipment, Lindsay's observatory included an extensive collection of rare books, the Bibliotheca Lindesiana, one of the most impressive in the world at the time.

[edit] Philately

Lindsay's philatelic interests[4] grew out of his work in extending the Lindsay family's library.[5] He purchased a large collection of philatelic literature formed by John K. Tiffany[6] of St. Louis, the first president of the American Philatelic Society. Tiffany's was already the world's largest and most complete collection of philatelic literature. Supplemented by purchases throughout Europe, eventually Lindsay's collection was given to the Philatelic Section of the British Library, in London.

Lindsay formed notable collections of the stamps of the Italian States, the United States and Great Britain. The Crawford Medal was established by the Royal Philatelic Society London in Lindsay's honor for distinguished contributions to philately. It is awarded annually for “the most valuable and original contribution to the study and knowledge of philately published in book form during the two years preceding the award.” Lindsay's name was included as one of the “Fathers of Philately" in 1921.

Lindsay was elected as a Member of Parliament for Wigan in 1874, and held the seat until his elevation to the peerage in 1880.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gill, D. "On Photographs of the Great Comet", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, p.53
  2. ^ The Royal observatory, Edinburgh
  3. ^ The Royal observatory, Edinburgh
  4. ^ British Philatelic Trust, Rowland Hill, promotion of "the study, research and dissemination of knowledge" about philately - UK Philately, Stamps and stamp collecting plus much, much more GB
  5. ^ American Philatelic Society - Hall of Fame - 1941
  6. ^ American Philatelic Society - Hall of Fame - 1941

[edit] Literature

  • Barker, Nicolas (Nicolas John): Bibliotecha Lindesiana: The Lives and Collections of Alexander William, 25th Earl of Crawford and 8th Earl of Balcarres, and James Ludovic, 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres. London : for Presentation to the Roxburghe Club, and published by Bernard Quaritch, 1978. Second impression, with corrections.
  • Information on the Crawford Collection at "Royal Observatory Website". Retrieved Jan. 8, 2005.
  • Catalogue of the Crawford Library of Philatelic Literature at the British Library (1991).


Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Alexander William Crawford Lindsay		 Earl of Crawford
1880–1913		 Succeeded by
David Lindsay
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