Radcliffe Observatory

The Radcliffe Observatory was established in Oxford in 1794. It was initially proposed by Thomas Hornsby, Savilian Chair of Astronomy, in 1768. He petitioned the trustees of the estate of John Radcliffe for funds and as a result it would be named after him. Construction began in 1772 under the direction of Henry Keene but James Wyatt would replace him before the project was completed. Until 1839 the Savilian Chair of Astronomy was responsible for the observatory but after this, a new role of Radcliffe Observer was created. In 1939 the observatory was moved to South Africa due to light pollution and urban expansion in Oxford. In 1974 it would be merged with the Royal and Republic Observatories of South Africa to form the South African Astronomical Observatory.