Alexander James Adie (1775–1858) was an Edinburgh-born maker of medical instruments, optician and meteorologist.
He also invented the Sympiesometer, a compact and lightweight barometer widely used on ships in the 19th century.
Adie supplied lenses to Charles Darwin, Sir David Brewster, Joseph Hooker, and was the optician to William IV and Queen Victoria.
His daughter married Thomas Henderson, the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland.
John Adie FRSE joined his father’s firm around 1840 to establish Adie & Son at 58 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Sources and Further Reading
Alexander Adie – Wikipedia
Charles Darwin – Wikipedia
Sir David Brewster – Wikipedia
Joseph Hooker – Wikipedia
Thomas Henderson – Wikipedia
Astronomer Royal for Scotland – Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
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