James Six (429)

James Six (30 January 1730–25 August 1793) was an inventor, astronomer, and silk weaver, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1784. Born in Canterbury, England, James initially joined the family silk weaving business. However declining sales due to foreign imports forced Six to retire early. Despite receiving no formal education, Six became involved in a variety of academic interests including astronomy and inventing. He recorded observations on comets and the planet Uranus which he sent to several notable individuals, magazines, and learned societies. James Six is most famous for his invention of the self-registering thermometer which allowed recording of both maximum and minimum temperature with one device. Because of this invention, he was elected into the Royal Society of London in 1792. Six was a devout Anglican and spent much of his time co-creating a Sunday school for the parish of Holy Cross. The school provided instruction in religion as well as reading and singing. He died in his hometown and was buried with his wife in a vault at Holy Cross. (DNB)