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Thomas Harriot was born in Oxford, England in 1560 - his birthdate isn't known. And he himself was not much known until comparatively recently. Yet he was a brilliant mathematician, and an astronomer, navigator, surveyor and ethnographer. Despite his diverse accomplishments, he published only one book, and that was A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia in 1588.

Discoverers – Planets and Moons
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What is the thread that unites . . .
>the Wizard Earl
>the first recorded use of an astronomical telescope
>Sir Walter Raleigh
>Virginia
>the Gunpowder Plot
>the Smithsonian Museum
>a historic estate on the banks of the River Thames in England

Syon Park

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The International Year of Astronomy (IYA) was held in 2009. One of the themes was the use of telescopes in astronomy. Galileo is the name most people know. He quickly published the results of his discoveries and was generally credited with being first. But there is documented evidence that Thomas Harriot at Syon House viewed the Moon with a telescope three months earlier than Galileo's first telescopic observation.

Harriot didn't need the money or publicity, and didn't publish the results of his observations. He may also have preferred to keep a low profile. His patron was locked up in the Tower of London after after the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, even though he was not involved. However a cousin who was involved stopped at Syon on his way to London.

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in London held Telescope400 in the grounds of Syon House. Part of it was a plaque honoring Harriot's work. His papers had found their way to Petworth House in Sussex. (They're now in the British Library.) Lord Egremont of Petworth House came to unveil the plaque. (I'm in the crowd!)

There's still a plaque there. The original had got somewhat ragged over the years, so the RAS provided a new one a few years ago.
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This story about Thomas Harriot and his contemporaries is interesting and reads like a modern biography in a way. Thank you Mona, it really does make astronomy come alive.

Cheers

Lestie, thank you for your kind words. Glad that you enjoyed this visit to Syon - I think you'd like the gardens.

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Nothing to do with astronomy, but you may be interested to know that this well known woman lived for a time in Syon (Brentford).

If you're interested, there is more about the: Visit to England. [It didn't have a happy ending.]
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