Sir Jonas Moore (1617-1679) was a mathematician, surveyor, Ordnance Officer and patron of astronomy. He participated in two of the most ambitious English civil engineering projects of the 17th century: the Great Level of the Fens and the building of the Mole at Tangier. In later life, his wealth and influence as Surveyor General of the Ordnance enabled him to become a patron and principal driving force behind the establishment of the Royal Observ...
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Sir Jonas Moore (1617-1679) was a mathematician, surveyor, Ordnance Officer and patron of astronomy. He participated in two of the most ambitious English civil engineering projects of the 17th century: the Great Level of the Fens and the building of the Mole at Tangier. In later life, his wealth and influence as Surveyor General of the Ordnance enabled him to become a patron and principal driving force behind the establishment of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
Jonas Moore was born at Higher White Lee near Higham, in Pendle, Lancashire on 8 February 1617, a son of a yeoman farmer. There is no record of his education but it is likely that he attended Burnley Grammar School, which was only three miles from his home. In 1637, he was appointed Clerk to Thomas Burwell, vicar-general of the diocese of Durham, a job requiring competence in the use of legal Latin, so he evidentially had a good school education. He married Eleanor Wren on 8 April 1638 in Durham and subsequently raised a...
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