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Patrick Kelly

1756 – 1842

British metrologist, born 1756

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About Patrick Kelly

Lived 1756 – 1842 (aged 85–86). Patrick Kelly was a British mathematician and meteorologist.

Patrick Kelly (1756–1842) was a British metrologist, best known for his comparative studies of weights and measures collected in his works Universal Cambist and Oriental Metrology (1832). Kelly was Master of the Finsbury Square Academy, London. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Imperial system of measurement through the Weights and Measures Act 1824 (5 Geo. 4. c. 74). Charles Hutton's 1815 list of England's most notable private observatories included Kelly's observatory at Finsbury Square.

Kelly knew Nevil Maskelyne, John Herschel, James Hutton, and other men of science. He was consulted by committees of the House of Commons as an authority on questions of coinage and currency. He died at Brighton, 5 April 1842. A portrait of him by Harry Ashby was engraved by Thomas Woolnoth.

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Important facts

People in Patrick Kelly's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Patrick Kelly?

British metrologist, born 1756

When was Patrick Kelly born?

Patrick Kelly was born in 1756.

When did Patrick Kelly die?

Patrick Kelly died on 5 April 1842.

What was Patrick Kelly's occupation?

Patrick Kelly was a mathematician and meteorologist.

What nationality was Patrick Kelly?

Patrick Kelly was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Patrick Kelly

· Wikidata: Q7146933

· DBpedia: Patrick Kelly (metrologist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Patrick Kelly. https://biography.guide/patrick-kelly/

MLA: "Patrick Kelly." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/patrick-kelly/.

Chicago: "Patrick Kelly." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/patrick-kelly/.

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