author
E. D. (Edward David) Ashe
1813–1895
A Royal Navy officer turned astronomer and writer, he helped lay the groundwork for practical astronomy in Canada. His life ranged from naval service in the Mediterranean and Pacific to scientific work, public service, and published observations on the heavens.
1 Audiobook
The proceedings of the Canadian Eclipse Party, 1869
by E. D. (Edward David) Ashe
About the author
Born in Bath, England, around 1813, Edward David Ashe entered the Royal Navy in 1830 and trained in gunnery at Portsmouth. During his naval years he served in the Mediterranean and the Pacific, and his skill in mathematics and mechanics became clear early on.
After settling in Quebec, he built a second career in science and public service. He worked as an astronomer and office holder, took part in important observational work, and wrote on scientific subjects. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography credits his longitude measurements with helping shape practical astronomy in Canada for decades, and describes his solar research as marking him out as Canada's first astrophysicist.
Ashe also published works including The Proceedings of the Canadian Eclipse Party, 1869. He died in Sherbrooke, Quebec, on March 30, 1895, leaving behind a life that joined seafaring, careful observation, and a lasting contribution to Canadian science.