Philip R. Collins

A brief, clear and concise biography of FotzRoy, and his barometers.

This explains well who FitzRoy was, how his command of the Beagle voyage encouraged his enthusiasm for barometers, and his career afterwards and his influence in making barometers available to a wide seafaring community.

The second half of the book describes the barometers FitzRoy was involved with, both the shipborne barometers and the shore-based ones 'to his pattern' that were distributed through the RNLI. It also covers show more the domestic pattern ones made after his death. A useful chapter gives advice on purchase, evaluation and potentially restoration of antique barometers.

FitzRoy obviously warrants a full biography, but this brief book is probably as much barometer history as many collectors will require and it's a valuable book for that. show less