Airy GB (1861)

On the algebraical and numerical theory of errors of observations and the combination of observations. Cambridge: MacMillan and Co.
George Airy, Astronomer Royal, showed in his textbook of statistical methods how separate measurements of the same star could be combined to produce an average measurement (a process that would later be called ‘meta-analysis’).

Title page(s)

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Key passage(s)

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Portrait(s)

 George Biddell Airy (1801-1892)

Acknowledgements

The editors are grateful to:

Dr Michael Ferriter for providing a photocopy of Airys book.

The Wellcome Trust for making available the portrait of George Biddell Airy (1801-1892).