The 19th century is remembered for a number of events, inventions, and advancements. A particular phase, the 1860s, too featured various contributions to the 19th century. From Alfred Noble’s invention of dynamite to the creation of the Periodic Table; from Tolstoy’s War and Peace to the opening of the Suez Canal; and from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland to Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables; the 1860s witnessed a gush of literature, science, history, and infrastructural development. But then, there was another critical advancement which took place in the 1860s. The time period gave birth to the science of weather forecasting.
Admiral Robert FitzRoy is generally associated with HMS Beagle and the historical circumnavigation of the 1830s. But the Royal Navy officer was also the father of weather forecasting. At a time when the term ‘weather forecasting’ did not even exist, FitzRoy took the initiative of developing a better understanding of the science of weather. The Meteorological Department of Board of Trade was limited to reducing sailing times by developing more efficient wind charts. The idea of forecasting or to some extent predicting a weather pattern wasn’t even conceived. In fact, when FitzRoy decided to dig deeper, he was mocked at for his ‘jabberwocky’.
So while the human race was busy observing frogs in a jar and bulls in a field, innovators like FitzRoy went looking for a more concrete and less ridiculous mechanism of weather forecasting. But it wasn’t all grey. Some crucial theoretical advancements were made in the direction of weather forecasting during the 19th century. The working of storms, the direction around a low pressure, and basic weather charts were all key elements of weather forecasting in the 19th century. But even then, the idea of forecasting weather 24 hours beforehand, was met with a roar of laughter in the House of Commons back in 1854.
It was a time when sea voyage was the main mode of transport and travel. But lack (or non-existence) of proper navigation and warning systems led to the death of thousands each year. This worried a few like FitzRoy who used the newly introduced telegraph service to provide concrete weather inputs. He utilized inputs sent from coasts, via telegraph, to issue what we today refer to as weather alerts or warnings. FitzRoy’s weather forecasts stated the probable weather for two days in advance.
But FitzRoy was extremely particular about distinguishing weather forecast from misdirected prognostic gibberish. His efforts were finally recognized and weather forecasting was awed upon. But unusual weather patterns did keep the skeptical lot busy. However, weather forecasting had already cemented its feet. For a man who nurtured weather forecasting throughout his life, his last weather forecast was published after his death. Burdened by failing health and financial trouble, FitzRoy committed suicide at the age of 59 on April 30, 1865. But his invaluable gift to mankind continues to benefit countless lives across the globe.
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