George Adams Jr.

George Adams the Younger (1750–1795) was an English scientist, optician and science writer. He was mathematical instrument maker to King George III of Great Britain, succeeding his father George Adams the Elder in the post. He also made globes.

Around 1770, Adams invented the lucernal microscope, a type of projection microscope where the image is projected on a screen by a large oil lamp, as to make it easier to draw or trace the image.

In politics Adams was a Tory, and as such was received with favour at court by George III. He died 14 August 1795, at Southampton, and was succeeded in his business and in the post of mathematical instrument maker to the king by his brother, Dudley Adams.

A Short Dissertation on the Barometer (1790). Geometrical and Graphical Essays, containing a description of the mathematical instruments used in geometry, civil and military surveying, levelling and perspective (1790). Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, in five volumes (1794).

For some of Adams's books, plates were published separately, and most of them had more than one edition.

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