Document information

Physical location:

Royal Society of London, Archives, EC/1873/09. 72.11.07a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Royal Society of London, 1872-11-07 [72.11.07a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1870-9/1872/72-11-07a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

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Transcribed from on-line image, Royal Society of London, Archives, EC/1873/09.
Certificate of Candidate for Election
(N.B. Directions for the filling up are given on the other side.)
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Instructions for filling up have not been included in this transcription.
(Name)
Robert Lewis John Ellery FRAS &c
(Title or Designation)
Government Astronomer & Superintendent of Geodetic Survey of the Colony of Victoria
(Profession or Trade * )
(Usual Place of Residence)
Melbourne Victoria
Qualifications
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Printed vertically to the left of the space left for the citation.
First Established in 1854 & since directed the Government Observatory of the Colony of Victoria & in that capacity being author of the "Melbourne Astronomical Observations (3 volumes) &c Contributed various papers, to the Royal Society London (on a new form of Electrometer) to the Royal Astronomical Society London & to the Royal Society of Victoria on Astronomical & physical subjects –
Director of the Geodetic Survey of Victoria from its commencement in 1858 up to the present time, the operations of which have included the measurement of a base line & complete Trigonometrical Survey of the Colony –
President of the Royal Society of Victoria
being desirous of admission into the ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON , we, the undersigned, propose and recommend him as deserving that honour, and as likely to become a useful and valuable Member. Dated this 7th day of November 1872.
From General knowledge
From personal knowledge
W J Macquorn Rankine
Joseph H Kay Captain RN FRS Melbourne
William Thomson
Baron Ferd von Mueller, CMG, MD, PhD, FRS, Director of the bot Gardens of Melbourne and Gov Botanist for Victoria
H Lloyd
James R Napier
J C Adams
T R Robinson DD
Warren De La Rue
B Stewart
Wm Lassell
Edward Sabine
J Challis
William Huggins
Robert Main
Elected
R Grant
June 12. 1873
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The annotation detailing the date of election is written diagonally between the two lists of supporters. Ellery was elected at his first attempt.
C Piazzi Smith, Astr Royal for Scotland
E J Lowe
Henry Holland
Read to the Society on the 7th day of November 1872
To be Ballotted for on the day of
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The spaces in this line have been left blank
* If of no Profession or Trade, this should be stated by writing the word None in the Blank