Childrey, Joshua

1. Dates

Born: Rochester, 1623

Died: Upwey, Dorsetshire, 26 Aug. 1670

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 47

2. Father

Occupation: Unknown

We know only that his name was Robert Childrey.

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: England

Career: England

Death: England

4. Education

Schooling: Oxford

Rochester Grammar School.

Oxford University; Magdalen Colleger, B.A., 1646. Childrey was expelled by the Parliamentary Visitors in 1648.

M.A., 1661; D.D., 1661. Both of these degrees were mandated upon the Restoration; I am not listing either.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Anglican

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Natural History

Subordinate: Astrology, Meteorology

Childrey's first books were on astrology: Imago astrologica, 1652, and Syzygiasticon instauratum, 1653.

In attempting to elaborate an experimental astrology, he confirmed an old idea that there was a 35 year cycle in the weather. He made numberous observations on the weather and the tides.

His most important book was Britannia baconia, 1660, in natural history.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Schoolmastering, Church Life

Secondary: Academia, Patronage

Clerk of Magdalen College, 1640-8.

Schoolmaster of Faversham, 1648-61.

Appointed chaplain to the Lord Herbert, 1660-4.

Archdeaconry of Sarum, 1664, and a prebend in Salisbury Cathedral that same year.

Rector of Upwey, 1664-70.

8. Patronage

Type: Aristrocrat

Lord Herbert offered him a chaplainship in 1660.

It is clear that he languished until the Restoration and then received a living. (Source on patronage: DNB)

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Instruments

Childrey made and improved telescopes.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Informal Connections: correspondence with Oldenburg.

Sources

1. A.R. and M.B. Hall, The Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, 1, 301, and 5, 384-386, 454-456.
2. Dictionary of National Biography (repr., London: Oxford University Press, 1949-1950) [ref. CT773.D51], 4, 250-1. Anthony à Wood, Athenae oxonienses (Fasti oxonienses is attached, with separate pagination, to the Athenae), 4 vols. (London, 1813-20), 3, 903-5; Fasti, 2, 90, 246, 244.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.