Robert Bryson's rolling ball clock (1804) National Museum of Scotland
The Bryson family grave, New Calton Cemetery

Robert Bryson FRSE (25 August 1778 – 8 August 1852) was a chronometer and clock maker in Edinburgh. He received the Royal Warrant as Watch and Clock Maker to Queen Victoria.

Notable Clocks

"Congreve" Rolling Ball Clock (1804)

Robert Bryson made a rolling ball clock in 1804, four years before the design was patented by William Congreve. It is on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.[1]

Sidereal Clock for the Calton Hill Observatory (1832)

He made a sidereal clock for the City Observatory, formerly the Calton Hill Observatory,[2] where it was used by Professor Thomas Henderson in his observations.[3]

Heriot-Watt University connection

A conversation with Leonard Horner in Robert Bryson's watchmakers shop,[4] regarding the lack of training in mathematics within apprentices, led to the founding of the School of Arts of Edinburgh which became Heriot-Watt University.

Personal life and death

He married Janet Gillespie (1788–1858) on 29 December 1815 in the parish of North Leith. They had four sons and two daughters:

  1. Alexander Bryson (1816–1866) - Biologist and Geologist.
  2. William Gillespie Bryson (1818-1906)
  3. Robert Bryson (1819–1886) - who followed him into the watch and clock business and became, amongst other things, Master of the Merchant Company - married Mary Ann Braund Box - buried in Warriston Cemetery
  4. Margaret Muir Bryson (1821–1873)
  5. James Mackay Bryson (1824–1894)
  6. Helen Cockburn Bryson (1826–1912)

His premises, Robert Bryson & Son was located at 66 Princes Street, Edinburgh and he lived his final years at 11 Salisbury Road in south Edinburgh.[5]

He died 8 August 1852 and is buried in New Calton Cemetery along with his wife, Jane, son Alexander and other family members.

References

  1. ↑ "Congreve rolling ball clock". National Museums Scotland.
  2. ↑ Astronomical Society of Edinburgh. "Instruments of the City Observatory". Retrieved 27-01-2020.
  3. ↑ Kemp, Kenny. "Robert Bryson & Sons: time-keeping, innovation and useful learning in Edinburgh". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Edinburgh School of Arts | Heriot-Watt University". Hw.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1852



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