Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, FRS, FRGS (7 May 1774 – 17 December 1857) was an Irish hydrographer and officer in the British Royal Navy. Beaufort was the creator of the Beaufort scale for indicating wind force. From the circle representing a weather station, a stave (as in musical notation) extends, with one or more half or whole barbs. For example, a stave with 3 ½ barbs represents Beaufort seven on the scale, decoded as 32–38 mph, or a "Fresh Gale". The Fellowship of the Royal Society was founded in 1660. ... The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 with the name Geographical Society of London for the advancement of geographical science, under the patronage of King William IV. It absorbed the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa (founded by Sir Joseph... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... (Redirected from 17 December) December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Hydrography is the measurement of physical characteristics of waters and marginal land. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... The Beaufort scale is an empirical measure for describing wind intensity based mainly on observed sea conditions. ...

Biography

Beaufort was descended from Huguenots who fled France after the terrible St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre eventually settling in Ireland. Young Francis' father, Daniel Augustus Beaufort, was Rector of Navan. Born in Ireland, Francis left school and went to sea at the age of fourteen, but became sufficiently self-educated to associate with some of the greatest scientists (e.g. Herschel, Airy, Babbage) of his time. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France. ... 19th century painting by Fran̤ois Dubois The St. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Notable people or families with the surname Herschel include: Sir William Herschel (1738-1822), astronomer and composer, discoverer of Uranus Carolyn Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848), astronomer and singer, sister of Sir William Herschel John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871), mathematician and astronomer, son of Sir William Herschel Alexander Stewart Herschel... Look up Airy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Airy is the surname of Sir George Biddell Airy who is the eponym of craters located on the Moon and Mars. ... Charles Babbage Charles Babbage (December 26, 1791 РOctober 18, 1871) was an English mathematician, analytical philosopher and (proto_) computer scientist who was the first person to come up with the idea of a programmable computer. ...

As a consequence of being shipwrecked at age fifteen, in peril of starvation, due to a faulty sea chart, Beaufort became obsessed with the importance of education and the development of accurate charts for those risking the seas.

Beginning on a merchant ship of the British East India Company, Beaufort rose (during the Napoleonic Wars) to midshipman, lieutenant, commander and captain in the Royal Navy. Whereas other wartime officers sought leisurely pursuits at each opportunity, Beaufort spent his leisure time taking soundings and bearings, making astronomical observations to determine longitude and latitude, and measuring shorelines. His results were compiled in new charts. The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Sicily  Spain[3]  Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Italy Naples [5] Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[6] Saxony[7] Denmark-Norway [8] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich João Francisco de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun Gebhard von... A midshipman is a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the navies of several English-speaking countries. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Sounding can refer to: Determination the depth of water usually in the sea. ... A bearing is a component used to reduce friction in a machine. ... Longitude is the east-west geographic coordinate measurement most commonly utilized in cartography and global navigation. ... This article is about the geographical term. ...

In 1811–1812, Beaufort charted and explored southern Anatolia, locating many classical ruins. His work was interrupted (at Ayas, near Adana) by an attack by Turks on the crew of his boat, during which he received a serious bullet wound in the hip. He returned to England, and drew up the charts himself, also publishing in 1817 his book Karamania; or a brief description of the South Coast of Asia Minor, and of the Remains of Antiquity. For the US Federal Agent designation, see Special agent. ... For the overture by Tchaikovsky, see 1812 Overture; For the wars, see War of 1812 (USA - United Kingdom) or Patriotic War of 1812 (France - Russia) For the Siberia Airlines plane crashed over the Black Sea on October 4, 2001, see Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 1812 was a leap year starting... Ayas is a small town in Yumurtalık district, Adana Province, Turkey, located east of the mouth of the Ceyhan River. ... Adana (Turkish: , Greek: ) (the ancient Antioch in Cilicia or Antioch on the Sarus) is the capital of Adana Province in Turkey. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1829, at age 55 (retirement age for most administrative contemporaries), Beaufort became the Hydrographer of the British Admiralty, remaining so for 25 years, longer than his predecessors or successors. Beaufort converted what had been a minor chart repository into the finest surveying and charting institution in the world. Some of his excellent charts are still used, 200 years after he created them. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hydrographic office. ... For the international law of the sea, see Admiralty law. ...

During his tenure, the great astronomical observatories at Greenwich, England, and the Cape of Good Hope, Africa, were placed under Beaufort's administration. Beaufort directed some of the major maritime explorations and experiments of that period. For eight years, Beaufort directed the Arctic Council during its search for the explorer, Sir John Franklin, lost in his last polar voyage to search for the legendary Northwest Passage. Categories: Stub | Astronomical observatories ... This page is about Greenwich in England. ... The Cape of Good Hope; looking towards the west, from the coastal cliffs above Cape Point. ... For other persons named John Franklin, see John Franklin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Northwest Passage (disambiguation). ...

As a council member of the Royal Society, the Royal Observatory, and the Royal Geographic Society (which he helped found), Beaufort used his position and prestige as a scientist to act as a "middleman" for many scientists of his time. Beaufort represented the geographers, astronomers, oceanographers, geodesists, and meteorologists to that government agency, the Hydrographic Office, which could support their research. In this capacity, Beaufort approved Charles Darwin as naturalist on FitzRoy's voyage to the Galápagos Islands. For other uses, see Royal Society (disambiguation). ... Royal Observatory, Greenwich. ... The Royal Geographical Society with the associated Institute of British Geographers is a learned society of geography and geographers. ... Oceanography (from Ocean + Greek γράφειν = write), also called oceanology and marine science is the study of the earths oceans and their interlinked ecosystems and chemical and physical processes. ... This article or section should include material from Erdmessung. ... Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... For other people of the same surname, and places and things named after Charles Darwin, see Darwin. ... Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (5 July 1805 – 30 April 1865) achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality, also proving an able surveyor and hydrographer as well as Governor-General of New Zealand. ... This article is about the islands. ...

Overcoming many objections, Beaufort obtained government support for the Antarctic voyage of 1839–1843 by James Clark Ross for extensive measurements of terrestrial magnetism, coordinated with similar measurements in Europe and Asia. (This is comparable to the International Geophysical Year of our time.) 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Sir James Clark Ross (April 15, 1800 – April 3, 1862), was a British naval officer and explorer. ... Earths magnetic field (the surface magnetic field) is approximately a magnetic dipole, with one pole near the geographic north pole and the other near the geographic south pole. ... The International Geophysical Year or IGY was an international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. ...

Beaufort promoted the development of reliable tide tables around British shores, motivating similar research for Europe and North America. Aiding friend and fellow scientist, William Whewell, Beaufort gained the support of the Duke of Wellington in expanding record-keeping at 200 coastguard stations of Great Britain. Beaufort gave enthusiastic support to his friend, the Astronomer Royal and noted mathematician George Airy in achieving a historic period of measurements by the Greenwich and Good Hope observatories. William Whewell In later life William Whewell (May 24, 1794 – March 6, 1866) was an English polymath, scientist, Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, and historian of science. ... Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1 May 1769–14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and statesman, widely considered one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. ... Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. ... George Biddell Airy Sir George Biddell Airy (July 27, 1801 – January 2, 1892) was British Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881. ...

Beaufort also endured the political struggles of government administration and naval promotion. Long denied deserved advancement, these injustices became notorious to his fellow officers. Knighted in 1848, he became the "Sir Francis Beaufort" known to posterity. Year 1848 (MDCCCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Beaufort trained Robert FitzRoy who was put in temporary command of the survey ship HMS Beagle after her previous captain committed suicide. When FitzRoy was reappointed as Commander for the famous second voyage of the Beagle he requested Beaufort "that a well-educated and scientific gentleman be sought" as a companion on the voyage. Beaufort's enquiries led to an invitation to Charles Darwin who later drew on his discoveries in formulating the theory of evolution he presented in his book The Origin of Species. Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (5 July 1805 – 30 April 1865) achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle and as a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate weather forecasting a reality, also proving an able surveyor and hydrographer as well as Governor-General of New Zealand. ... HMS Beagle was a Cherokee class 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy, named after the beagle, a breed of dog. ... A watercolor by the HMS Beagles draughtsman, Conrad Martens. ... A gentleman scientist was a scientist with a private income who could pursue scientific study independently as he wished without excessive external financial pressures, in the days before large-scale government funding was available, up to the Victorian era, especially in England. ... For other people of the same surname, and places and things named after Charles Darwin, see Darwin. ... This article is about biological evolution. ... Charles Darwins Origin of Species (publ. ...

Beaufort's extant correspondence of 200+ letters and journals contained portions written in personal cipher, which his biographer deciphered and published for the first time. Beaufort altered the Vigenère cipher, by reversing the cipher alphabet; the resulting variant is named after him. The Vigenère cipher is named for Blaise de Vigenère (pictured), although Giovan Batista Belaso had invented the cipher earlier. ...

He died on 17 December 1857 at age 83 in Hove, Sussex, England. He is buried in the church gardens of St John at Hackney, London, where his tomb may still be seen. Floral Clock, Palmeira Square Hove promenade facing towards Brighton Hove is a town on the south coast of England immediately to the west of its larger neighbour, Brighton. ... Sussex is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Hackney Empire is one of the oldest surviving music halls in Britain. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Beaufort tomb in St John's Church Gardens

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 3. ... The Church of St John at Hackney is situated in the London Borough of Hackney. ...

Eponym

Beaufort, like other patrons of exploration, has had his name applied to many discoveries. Among these:

• Beaufort Sea (arm of Arctic Ocean)
• Beaufort Island, Antarctic
• Beaufort Inlet, North Atlantic Ocean

Approximate area of the Beaufort Sea, and the disputed waters The Beaufort Sea is a large body of water north of The Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska and west of Canadas arctic islands that is a part of the Arctic Ocean. ... Beaufort Island () is an island in the Ross Sea, the northernmost feature of the Ross Archipelago, lying 12 miles north of Cape Bird, Ross Island. ... Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

References

• Alfred Friendly. Beaufort of the Admiralty. Random House, New York, 1973.
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (sub nomine)

See also

• Substitution cipher

In cryptography, a substitution cipher is a method of encryption by which units of plaintext are substituted with ciphertext according to a regular system; the units may be single letters (the most common), pairs of letters, triplets of letters, mixtures of the above, and so forth. ...

External links

• Maritime Institute of Ireland