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Charles Gorrie Wynne

1911 – 1999

British engineer

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About Charles Gorrie Wynne

Lived 1911 – 1999 (aged 88). Charles Gorrie Wynne was a British engineer, physicist and astronomer.

Charles Gorrie Wynne FRS (18 May 1911 – 1 October 1999) was an English optics designer, a significant figure in optical lens design.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1970. His candidature citation read: "C.G. Wynne is distinguished for his work in aberration theory and for his development of new mathematical methods embodied in the first successful computer programmes for the optimisation of optical systems of many kinds. In high performance optical instruments complicated lens systems are usually needed, systems of up to 50 parameters are common and over 100 may be required. Wynne has demonstrated conclusively that computer-aided design can lead to the manufacture of such lenses with substantially improved performance. As a consequence, the programmes he has developed are now in regular use at Imperial College and in industry. Examples of the work undertaken by Wynne include optical systems for sir navigation, for space research, for particle physics (CERN, CEA Saclay, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA) and for astronomy (for the Isaac Newton Telescope of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, Palomar, Kitt Peak, and McDonald Observatories). Wynne is undertaking work on wide-field correctors for the 150-inch Anglo-Australian Telescope. Prior to 1960, Wynne worked in industry where he was particularly noted for developing, for the RAF, a series of high-performance survey lenses for aerial photography."

Awards Young Medal and Prize in 1971 Rumford Medal in 1982 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1988

Private life He died in Cambridge in 1999. He was married with 3 children.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society; Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society; Rumford Medal; Young Medal and Prize

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Charles Gorrie Wynne's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Charles Gorrie Wynne?

British engineer (1911–1999)

When was Charles Gorrie Wynne born?

Charles Gorrie Wynne was born on 18 May 1911.

When did Charles Gorrie Wynne die?

Charles Gorrie Wynne died on 1 October 1999.

What was Charles Gorrie Wynne's occupation?

Charles Gorrie Wynne was an engineer, physicist and astronomer.

What nationality was Charles Gorrie Wynne?

Charles Gorrie Wynne was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Charles Gorrie Wynne

· Wikidata: Q358818

· DBpedia: Charles Gorrie Wynne

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Charles Gorrie Wynne. https://biography.guide/charles-gorrie-wynne/

MLA: "Charles Gorrie Wynne." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/charles-gorrie-wynne/.

Chicago: "Charles Gorrie Wynne." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/charles-gorrie-wynne/.

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