#2116, Temple CHEVALLIER

Educated at the Grammar Schools in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich, Temple entered Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1813; obtained one of the Bell scholarships in 1814, and graduated in 1817 as second wrangler and second Smith's prizeman.  He was elected a fellow of Pembroke College, and afterwards fellow and tutor of St Catherine's hall.  In 1818 he was ordained by the bishop of Ely, and held the living os St Andrew the Great, Cambridge, from 1821 to 1834.  He proceeded MA in 1820 and BD in 1825.  He published two volumes of sermons, delivered by him at this church.  He held the appointment of Hulsean lecturer in 1826 and 1827, during which he published his lectyres in two volumes, the second being entitled 'Of the Proofs of Divine Power and Wisdom derived from the Study of Astronomy, and on the Evidence, Doctrines, and Precepts of Revealed Religion' (1835).  It is affirmed that this volume suggested to Whewell the fundermantal idea of his Bridgewater treatise upon astronomy and general Physics.

Chevallier was not only a mathematician and lecturer of great ability, but an able classical scholar.  While at Cambridge he acted as moderator in 1821-2 and 1826 in the mathematical tripos, and as examiner in the classical tripos for 1826.  He was appointed professor of Mathematics at Durham in 1835, and also professor of astronomy in 1841.  He held this appointment until 1871, and during nearly all this time he also filled the office of reader in Hebrew.  Chevallier about 1835 became perpetual curate of Esh, near Durham.  In a short time he was made honorary canon of Durham Cathedral (2nd October 1846), sub-warden of the university, riral dean, and eventually, in 1865, became a conon of Durham.

He published in the journals of the Astronomical Society eighteen papers, thirteen of these being the results of his astronomical observations, and five of them on physical inquiries.  he was also associated with Rumker in three papers, and with Thompson in two, one of these being 'Observations on the Planet Neptune.'  Among these contributions to science we find 'Observations of the Planets Flora, Isis, and Neptune,' 'Diameters of the Sun,' and 'On a method of finding the Effect of Parallax at different places, upon the time of disappearance and reappearance of a Star occulted by the Moon.'  Chevallier also pulished translations of the 'Epistles' of Clement of Rome, of Polycarp, and of Ignatius, and the 'Apologies' of Justin Martyr and Tertullian.  he edited as well an edition of 'Pearson on the Creed' (1849), and for the Society for Promoting Christain Knowledge he produced 'Easy lessons on Mechanics.'

Chevallier was especially desirous of introducing scientific studies into education.  In November 1837 he assisted in framing regulations for a class of students in civil engineering and mining in the university of Durham.  This class was opened in January 1838, Chevallier taking a very active part in its direction.  It was not successful, mainly through the contemporary system of apprenticeship; gradually declined in numbers, and practically came to an end in about six or seven years.  In 1865 an attempt was made by the university of Durham to establish a department of physical science at Durham, in which Chevallier was much interested; but it was virtually abandoned after some years. 

In 1871 the still existing College of Science was established at Newcastle, connected with and largely supported by the university of Durham. Chevallier was greatly interested in this experiment. In the same year, however, he resigned his professorship and other appointments, owing to his declining health and infirmities. In person, Chevallier was rather under the middle size, of considerable activity and prepossessing appearance. He invariably showed great zeal and industry together with kindness and benevolence.

Abridged from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

His obituary published by the Royal Astronomical Society claims that the family from which he was descended was of French origin, having left France for Jersey in consequence of the troubles of the sixteenth century, and proceeded thence to England. The first of the family who settled in England was one Rudolph Chevallier. It is recorded of him in one of Cranmer’s letters that he assisted Tremellius, the friend of Calvin, in reading Hebrew Lectures at Cambridge; for which he had a grant to be a “free denizen, and to enjoy the advowson of a prebend in Canterbury.” The grant was dated in August 1552. He is said to have been tutor to the Princess Elizabeth, afterwards Queen. It is certain that in her reign he was appointed Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge, in the year 1569. For many generations the Chevallier family has been settled in Suffolk, and several of the ancestors of the deceased have been clergymen of the Church of England. 

It goes on to say that his published works show him to have been a profound mathematical scholar, and that his mastery of the theory of celestial dynamics was most thorough and complete. In connection with this subject, it should be mentioned, as has been suggested by a friend, that he never gained proper credit for the originality manifested in the manner in which he handled the subject, and that this course of lectures forms “the step in the argument between Chalmers’ ‘Astronomical Discourses,’ and Whewell’s ‘Bridgewater Treatise.’”
Besides his professorial work, it was mainly through his exertions that Durham Observatory was founded, over which he presided as Director for thirty years. Although engaged in tutorial duties he has repeatedly shown his aptitude for original inquiry. He was the first to institute in England the regular continuous observation of the Solar spots, which has since led to important results
Although not mentioned in either of the two pieces quoted it is understood that he gave his name to the Chevallier Lunar Crater, which has a diameter of some 51 Km and is positioned on the north-eastern part of the Moon’s nearside.
He died in his 80th year and is buried in the family plot in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels at Esh in Co. Durham with his wife Catherine, his sister, Ellen Susan, and his son,