author
Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
1837–1888
A lively Victorian astronomy writer, he helped make the night sky feel understandable and exciting for general readers. His books and lectures brought planets, stars, and cosmic questions to a wide audience in Britain and the United States.
7 Audiobooks
Myths and Marvels of Astronomy
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Half-hours with the Telescope Being a Popular Guide to the Use of the Telescope as a Means of Amusement and Instruction.
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Pleasant Ways in Science
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Flowers of the Sky
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Light Science for Leisure Hours A series of familiar essays on scientific subjects, natural phenomena, &c.
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Half-Hours with the Stars A Plain and Easy Guide to the Knowledge of the Constellations
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
Rough Ways Made Smooth: A series of familiar essays on scientific subjects
by Richard A. (Richard Anthony) Proctor
About the author
Born in Chelsea, London, on March 23, 1837, Richard Anthony Proctor became one of the best-known popularizers of astronomy in the 19th century. He studied at King's College London and St John's College, Cambridge, and later turned his attention to writing and lecturing about the heavens in a way ordinary readers could enjoy.
He is especially remembered for his work on Mars, including an early map published in 1867 based on drawings by the observer William Rutter Dawes. Proctor wrote widely on astronomy and other scientific subjects, and his clear, energetic style made him a major public voice for science in the Victorian era.
Later in life he spent substantial time in the United States, where he continued lecturing and writing. He died in New York on September 12, 1888, leaving behind a large body of work that helped open up astronomy to countless readers.