Challis, JAMES

Challis, JAMES, astronomer, born at Braintree in Essex, 12th December 1803, graduated senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman at Cambridge in 1825, was ordained in 1830, and in 1836 became professor of Astronomy at Cambridge, where he died 3d December 1882. He was also till 1861 director of the Cambridge Observatory, and published a number of works, including 12 vols. of astronomical observations (1832-64). In August 1846, whilst carefully preparing to test Adams' results, he twice unconsciously noted the position of the planet Neptune before its discovery at Berlin on 23d September. See ADAMS (J. C.).