Background
Evans, son of the Review Thomas Evans of Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, was born in 1755.
Evans, son of the Review Thomas Evans of Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, was born in 1755.
Merton College.
He was matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, 16 December 1774, but left the university without a degree. In 1777 he was ordained by the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, his first curacy being that of Ashbury, Berkshire, where he served until 6 July 1778. He then commenced residence as curate of Compton, Berkshire, and continued there until 1788, in which year he received institution to the vicarage of Froxfield, Wiltshire.
He held the living until his death.
In 1799 he was appointed first mathematical master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in which post he laboured until 1820. In addition to a competent knowledge of various sciences, he had turned much of his attention, in the latter part of his life, to astronomy.
He possessed several valuable instruments, and for many years employed himself as a skilful and successful observer, having his own private observatory on Woolwich Common. Evans was elected Fellow of the Royal Society 29 May 1823, and was also fellow of the Astronomical Society.
He died at Froxfield 19 November 1827.
Royal Society.