Rooke, Lawerence

1. Dates

Born: Deptford, near London, 13 March 1622

Died: London, 27 June 1662

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 40

2. Father

Occupation: Gentry

George Rooke, of Monkshorton, Kent, was a member of the gentry.

Although there is no explicit word on his financial status, Lawrence Rooke was able to "retire" to his estate for three years (1647-50) because of ill health and then to stay in Wadham College, Oxford, as a fellow commoner for two further years (1650-2). I do not see how to deny that the family was at least affluent.

3. Nationality

Birth: English

Career: English

Death: English

4. Education

Schooling: Cambridge, M.A.

At Eton.

Cambridge, King's College, 1639-47; B.A.,1643; M.A.,1647.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Anglican

Anglican by assumption.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Astronomy, Navigation

Subordinate: Physics

Rooke observed the comet of 1652. There were other astronomical activities, especially in connection with navigation--systematic observations of the satellites of Jupiter as a means to determine longitude, and arguments for similar telescopic observations of lunar eclipses for that purpose. For the Royal Society he drew up a list of systematic observations for seamen to make in order to improve navigation.

With Wren he experimented on the impact of elastic bodies and with Goddard on the effect of radiant heat on a crude thermometer.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Academia, Personal Means

Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, 1643-7.

Professor of astronomy at Gresham College, 1652-7.

Professor of geometry at Gresham College, 1657-62.

He inherited the paternal estate in Kent.

8. Patronage

Types: Aristrocrat, Unknown

Someone stood behind those appointments at Gresham College. Rooke was very close to Seth Ward, who could have been responsible. I hardly know how to describe their relationship. Ward took care to create a memorial to Rooke after Rooke's death; that sounds more like friendship pure and simple. Interestingly, Wallis dedicated De sectionibus conicis to Ward and Rooke. Note that Rooke really was a country squire himself.

The Marquis of Dorchester is described as Rooke's patron. Rooke frequently visited his country seat at Highgate.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Navigation, Cartography

In his discussion of the satellites of Jupiter and how to observe them, Rooke is explicit in saying that this method will not work at sea because of the difficulty of observing. However, for establishing the longitude of cities and harbors, i.e., for cartography, where different people can be observing at different places, the satellites of Jupiter would be ideal. Rooke added that a good lunar theory might provide an astronomical means to determine longitude at sea.

10. Scientific Societies

Membership: Royal Society

Informal Connections: Connection with John Wilkins, Seth Ward and the Oxford group, beginning in 1650.

He occasionally assisted Boyle in his experiments, 1650-2.

Collaboration with Jonathan Goddard.

It was in Rooke's chambers at Gresham College that the group of interested men would gather in the late 50s, and there the Royal Society (though it was not yet so named while he was alive) was organized in 1660.

Sources

1. Dictionary of National Biography (repr., London: Oxford University Press, 1949-50), 17, 209-10. John Ward, Lives of the Professors of Gresham College, (London 1740), pp. 90-5. Colin A. Ronan, "Lawerence Rooke (1622-1662)," Notes and Records of the Royal Society, 15 (1960), 113-18.
2. Anthony à Wood, Athenae oxonienses (Fasti oxonienses is attached, with separate pagination, to the Athenae), 4 vols. (London, 1813-20), 3, 587-9.
3. Thomas Sprat, The History of the Royal Society, (London, 1667), pp.183-9.

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.