About John Grigg
Lived 1838 – 1920 (aged 82). John Grigg was a British astronomer.
John Grigg (4 June 1838 – 20 June 1920) was a New Zealand astronomer.
He was born in London and married Emma Mitchell in 1858. In 1863 they emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Auckland, however Emma died in 1867. Grigg then moved to the town of Thames. During this time he was seller of musical instruments, piano tuner, music teacher, and conductor.
He married his second wife Sarah Allaway in 1871 but she died in 1874. He later married his third wife, Jane Henderson, in 1887. In all, he had six sons and three daughters by his three wives.
The 1874 transit of Venus awakened his interest in astronomy, which he pursued full-time starting in 1894. He began systematic searches for comets in that year.
He is best known for his co-discovery of the periodic comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup in 1902, which was his first discovery of a new comet.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Grigg's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Grigg's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Grigg?
New Zealand astronomer (1838–1920)
When was John Grigg born?
John Grigg was born on 4 June 1838 in London.
When did John Grigg die?
John Grigg died on 20 June 1920 in Thames.
What was John Grigg's occupation?
John Grigg was an astronomer.
What nationality was John Grigg?
John Grigg was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Grigg (astronomer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Grigg. https://biography.guide/john-grigg-astronomer/
MLA: "John Grigg." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-grigg-astronomer/.
Chicago: "John Grigg." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-grigg-astronomer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:01 UTC