[BITList] Fwd: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Andrew Wilson Baird - the Tidal Correspondent of India

[John Feltham]

Baird, Andrew Wilson (1842-1908):

He sailed for India, after instruction, on 1st March 1864. He
was employed as special assistant engineer of the Bombay
harbour defence works. After 1865 he was appointed to the
government reclamations of the harbour foreshore. In
December 1869 he became assistant superintendent of the
great trigonometrical survey of India. His health suffered and
he went on furlough to England in the spring of 1870. While
he was at home, Colonel J.T. Walker, the surveyor-general
of India, chose him to study the practical details of tidal
observations and their reduction by harmonic analysis as
carried on under the supervision of Sir William Thomson,
for the British Association.

Tidal observations were only undertaken by the survey of India,
in the first instance, with the object of determining the mean sea
level as a datum for the trigonometrical survey. But Baird, widening
his aim, determined 'to investigate the relations between levels
of land and sea on the coasts of the gulf of Cutch, which were
believed by geologists to be gradually changing. This necessitated
a more exact determination of the mean sea level than had hitherto
sufficed for the operations of the survey'. It was decided to carry
out observations at stations in the gulf of Cutch, in accordance
with the recommendations of the tidal committee of the British
Association, by self-registering gauges, set up for at least a
year at a time. Having returned to India in December 1872,
Baird selected three stations on the gulf of Cutch for his tidal
observatories, one at the mouth, another at the head and as
far into the 'Runn' as possible, and the third about the middle
of the gulf. These observatories were inspected periodically
by Baird and his assistant in turn, in circumstances involving
severe privation.

Baird was promoted captain on 4 April 1874. In 1876 the governor
-general in council commended Baird's labours, and in July 1877
instructions were issued for systematic tidal observations at all
the principal Indian ports, and at other ports on the coast lines
where the results would be of general scientific interest, apart
from their usefulness for purpose of navigation. To Baird, who
had become deputy superintendent in the great trigonometrical
survey department, was entrusted the general superintendence.

Meanwhile, in 1876, Baird was at home, working out with assistance
the results of his observations in the gulf of Cutch . In the Autumn
he read a paper on 'Tidal Operations in the Gulf of Cutch' before
the British Association at Glasgow. On his return to India in June
1877 he organised a new department of the survey along the coast
lines from Aden to Rangoon, with its centre at Poona , Bombay .

In July 1881 Baird was at Venice as one of the commissioners
from India to the third international congress of geography, and
there he exhibited a complete set of tidal and levelling apparatus
in practical use in an adjoining canal. Baird was awarded the gold
medal of the first class.

After some eighteen months on furlough in England, Baird, who
had been promoted major on 18 December 1881, resumed his
tidal duties in India in March 1883, his field of operations including
India, Burma, Ceylon, and the Andaman Islands . On 27 August
the great volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, In Java, caused a wave
which was distinctly traceable in all the tidal diagrams, and Baird
sent a paper on the subject to the Royal Society, of which he
was elected a fellow in the following May.

Sir George Darwin, who first made Baird's personal acquaintance
at Lord Kelvin's house in 1882, wrote of Baird's tidal work on his
death, 'In science he has left a permanent mark as the successful
organiser of the first extensive operations in tidal observations by
new methods. The treatment of tidal observations is now made by
harmonic analysis in every part of the world, and this extensive
international development is largely due to the ability with which
he carried out the pioneer work in India '.

Besides the works cited, Baird was author of articles on the Gulf
of Cutch, Little Runn, and Gulf of Cambay in the 'Bombay Gazetteer';
'Notes on the Harmonic Analysis of Tidal Observations', published
by order of the Secretary of State 1872; 'Auxiliary Tables to
facilitate the Calculations of Harmonic Analysis of Tidal Observations'
1897; 'Account of the Spirit-Levelling Operations of the Great
Trigonometrical Survey of India' British Association 1885. He
was also joint author with Sir George Darwin of a report on the
results of the 'Harmonic Analysis of Tidal Observations',  and
with Mr. Roberts of the Nautical Almanac Office of 'Annual Tidal
Tables of Indian Ports'. He was created a Companion of  the
Order of the Star of India in June, 1897.

http://www.airmynyorks.co.uk/lbac.htm

ooroo

If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door.

Anon.



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