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Lot Essay
The paper applied to the barrel and the lid of the case is from an unidentified source and reads as follows:
'WATKINS, Francis (1), o. and M.I.M. (c.1723-82): Sir Isaac Newton's Head, 4/5 Charing X, London'. 'Watkins of Charing Cross' was a famous name for a century. The first Francis was apprenticed to Nathanial Adams [146] in 1737, and among his own apprentices was H. Pyefinch [642], and Addison Smith [538] with the latter of whom he worked in partnership. A second Francis Watkins (a cousin) was apprenticed to Smith. The older Francis was succeeded by two members of the same family (possibly sons), Jeremiah and William Watkins [1052] at Charing Cross, while in 1805 the firm became Watkins and Hill [1240] still at the same address. The elder Francis was probably the man who B. Donn [470] appointed to sell his Navigation Scale Improved in 1772, and Sir Joseph Banks [567] listed a Watkins reflecting telescope in 1785, possibly the one James Cook had used in 1774 to observe an eclipse of the Sun. Cook had described this as a 15-inch instrument. C & C/OG/
The inscription on the case with the name Mr Byron is tantalising. It seems improbable that the poet (1788-1824) should have owned a precision optical instrument of this type, but it is obviously possible. It is perhaps most likely to refer to his grandfather, Admiral the Hon. John 'Foul Weather Jack' Byron, who never succeeded to the title and so remained Mr Byron. He earned that nickname because of his apparent fondness for sailing through foul weather, rather than trying to avoid it. A possible alternative is the 7th Lord Byron (1789-1868), cousin and successor to the poet, and also an Admiral.
'WATKINS, Francis (1), o. and M.I.M. (c.1723-82): Sir Isaac Newton's Head, 4/5 Charing X, London'. 'Watkins of Charing Cross' was a famous name for a century. The first Francis was apprenticed to Nathanial Adams [146] in 1737, and among his own apprentices was H. Pyefinch [642], and Addison Smith [538] with the latter of whom he worked in partnership. A second Francis Watkins (a cousin) was apprenticed to Smith. The older Francis was succeeded by two members of the same family (possibly sons), Jeremiah and William Watkins [1052] at Charing Cross, while in 1805 the firm became Watkins and Hill [1240] still at the same address. The elder Francis was probably the man who B. Donn [470] appointed to sell his Navigation Scale Improved in 1772, and Sir Joseph Banks [567] listed a Watkins reflecting telescope in 1785, possibly the one James Cook had used in 1774 to observe an eclipse of the Sun. Cook had described this as a 15-inch instrument. C & C/OG/
The inscription on the case with the name Mr Byron is tantalising. It seems improbable that the poet (1788-1824) should have owned a precision optical instrument of this type, but it is obviously possible. It is perhaps most likely to refer to his grandfather, Admiral the Hon. John 'Foul Weather Jack' Byron, who never succeeded to the title and so remained Mr Byron. He earned that nickname because of his apparent fondness for sailing through foul weather, rather than trying to avoid it. A possible alternative is the 7th Lord Byron (1789-1868), cousin and successor to the poet, and also an Admiral.