Eleazar Roberts was a Welsh musician, translator, writer and amateur astronomer.
Background
Roberts was born in Pwllheli, Caernarfonshire in 1825 to John and Margaret Roberts, but only two months after his birth, the family moved to Liverpool. He grew up in Liverpool and was educated at several schools in the town including the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys.
Career
Roberts family moved to Liverpool in England while he was an infant, but despite this he retained a strong link to his country of birth and was a fluent Welsh speaker. He wrote for several Welsh journals and travelled Wales setting up music classes. He is most notable for pioneering the tonic sol-fa method of sight-singing in Wales, which in turn led to the strengthening of the practice of congregational singing.
At the age of 13 he found work in a solicitor"s office.
He retained the role of chief assistant until his retirement in 1894, and the following year he was made a justice of the peace. He died in 1912 and was buried at Anfield Cemetery.
Astronomical work Roberts was an amateur astronomer, but is notable in Welsh astronomy for translating The Solar System by prominent Scottish astronomer, Doctor Thomas Dick, from English into the Welsh language. He wrote many essays in Welsh journals on astronomy, including several pieces in Y Traethodydd under the title "The Telescope and its Discoveries".
Membership
In 1853 he became a full member of staff in the office of the clerk to the Liverpool magistrates before reaching the position of chief assistant to the clerk to the stipendiary magistrate.