FACTOID #53: If you thought Antarctica was inhospitable, think again - its land area is only ninety-eight percent ice. Reassuringly, the other 2% is categorised as "barren rock".
As Viscount Parker he was member of parliament for Wallingford from 1722 to 1727, but his interests were not in politics. In 1722 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and he spent most of his time in astronomical observations at his Oxfordshire seat, Shirburn Castle, which had been bought by his father in 1716; here he built an observatory and a chemical laboratory.
He was very prominent in effecting the change to the Gregorian calendar, which came into effect in 1752. His action in this matter, however, was somewhat unpopular, as the opinion was fairly general that he had robbed the people of eleven days.
The title of Earl of Macclesfield has been created twice, first in the Peerage of England in 1679 (extinct 1702) and then in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1721.
The first Earls of Macclesfield, from the Gerard family, held the subsidiary titles of Viscount Brandon (1679) and Baron Gerard of Brandon (1645), both in the Peerage of England.
The present Earls, from the Parker family, possess the subsidiary titles of Viscount Parker (1721) and Baron Parker of Macclesfield (1716), both in the Peerage of Great Britain.
As Viscount Parker he was member of parliament for Wallingford from 1722 to 1727, but his interests were not in politics.
In 1722 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and he spent most of his time in astronomical observations at his Oxfordshire seat, Shirburn Castle, which had been bought by his father in 1716; here he built an observatory and a chemical laboratory.
From 1752 until his death, Macclesfield was president of the Royal Society, and he made some observations on the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake.
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