Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse

Who was Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse?

Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse KP FRS was a member of the Irish peerage and an amateur astronomer. His name is often given as Laurence Parsons.

He was born at Birr Castle, Parsonstown, King's County, Ireland, the son and successor of the astronomer William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse who built the "Leviathan of Parsonstown" telescope, largest of its day, and his wife, the Countess Rosse, an amateur astronomer and pioneering photographer. Lawrence succeeded his father in 1867 and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Oxford University. He was the brother of Charles Algernon Parsons, inventor of the steam turbine.

He served as the eighteenth Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin between 1885 and 1908. His father served as the sixteenth Chancellor. He was Lord Lieutenant of King's County and Custos Rotulorum of King's County from 1892 to his death. He was also a Justice of the Peace for the county and was appointed High Sheriff of King's County for 1867–68. He was knighted KP in 1890.

Although overshadowed by his father, he nonetheless pursued some astronomical observations of his own, particularly of the Moon.