Isaac Roberts was born in Henllan, Denbighshire, on the 27th of January 1829 and was a Welsh speaker throughout his life.

Roberts, a farmer’s son, is known for finding a solution to what was then a problem in space photography.

He kept a camera pointed at faintly lighted celestial objects while the earth continues to rotate beneath us.

What Roberts is even more known for his taking the first known picture of the Andromeda Galaxy on the 29th of December 1888.

This was a hugely significant landmark in astronomy and space photography.

Roberts was also a very talented engineer in the Liverpool area and famously invented a machine called the “Stellar Pantograver” that could engrave stellar positions on copper plates.

He died on the 17th of July 1904 and left large sums of money to educational institutes, such as Cardiff University, Bangor University, and University of Liverpool.

He is a very important Welshman who should not be forgotten.

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Sally George

Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.