Parsons family, Birr, Co. Offaly
Birr Leviathon, built by the Parsons Family
The Parsons were an inventive and enterprising family. William's wife, Mary Field, was a noted early photographer. Their son Laurence, fourth Earl of Rosse, inherited his father's love of astronomy and produced the first accurate measurements of the moon's temperature. Another son, Sir Charles, invented the steam turbine which revolutionised marine transport and naval warfare and made a cheap and plentiful electricity possible, turbine design, electricity, generating, stations. Picture, restored Birr Leviathon, Parsons world's largest, telescope.
Courtesy of Birr Scientific and Heritage FoundationBirr Leviathon, built by the Parsons Family
Courtesy of Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation
Courtesy of Birr Scientific and Heritage Foundation
Birr Leviathon, built by the Parsons Family
The Parsons were an inventive and enterprising family. William's wife, Mary Field, was a noted early photographer. Their son Laurence, fourth Earl of Rosse, inherited his father's love of astronomy and produced the first accurate measurements of the moon's temperature. Another son, Sir Charles, invented the steam turbine which revolutionised marine transport and naval warfare and made a cheap and plentiful electricity possible, turbine design, electricity, generating, stations. Picture, restored Birr Leviathon, Parsons world's largest, telescope.
Courtesy of Birr Scientific and Heritage FoundationWilliam Parsons, built the world’s largest reflecting telescope in Birr, Co. Offaly.
His wife Mary (Countess of Rosse) was a photographer and also pioneer in the technology of photography.
Their son Charles Parsons (1854 – 1931) developed the steam turbine (a rotating machine that converts the power of steam into electricity) which was used very widely to power ships.
William’s cousin was Mary Ward (1827 – 1869) (see above); Mary was killed when she fell under the wheels of an experimental steam car built by her cousin William and his sons. She was perhaps the world’s first victim of a vehicle crash.
For more on the Parsons family, go to www.birrcastle.com
Ball Family, Youghal, Co. Cork
Sir Robert Ball
Ball (1840-1913) came from a Dublin scientific family. He worked at Birr Castle as tutor to the Parsons family and as assistant on the great telescope. He spent nearly 20 years as professor at Dunsink Observatory before moving to Cambridge University. He was a gifted photographer, despite being blind in one eye, and took wonderful photographs of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers when he went on inspections with the Commissioners of Irish Lights. He also gave successful lecture tours in the USA.
Sir Robert Ball
Sir Robert Ball
Ball (1840-1913) came from a Dublin scientific family. He worked at Birr Castle as tutor to the Parsons family and as assistant on the great telescope. He spent nearly 20 years as professor at Dunsink Observatory before moving to Cambridge University. He was a gifted photographer, despite being blind in one eye, and took wonderful photographs of lighthouses and lighthouse keepers when he went on inspections with the Commissioners of Irish Lights. He also gave successful lecture tours in the USA.
The Ball family included Robert Ball (1802 – 1857) and his sisters Anne (1808 – 1872) and Mary (1812 - 1898). Robert, Mary and Anne studied and wrote about insects and wildflowers.