CHECKING the weather is a national pastime in the UK. Us Brits often look at our apps before heading out into our temperate climate.
Come rain or shine, the Met Office is our go-to destination for all things weather-related. Here’s how it all began.
Who founded the Met Office?
The Met Office was founded in 1854 by then Captain Robert FitzRoy.
Fitzroy was born into aristocracy in Suffolk, England in 1805.
Through his father, General Lord Charles FitzRoy, he was a fourth great-grandson of Charles II.
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While his mother Lady Frances Stewart was the daughter of the first Marquess of Londonderry and the half-sister of Viscount Castlereagh, who became Foreign Secretary.
His half-brother Sir Charles FitzRoy served as Governor of New South Wales, Governor of Prince Edward Island and Governor of Antigua.
In 1863, he was appointed Vice-Admiral after his many naval expeditions.
What did Vice Admiral Robert FitzRoy do?
Vice-Admiral Fitzroy was an English officer of the Royal Navy and a scientist.
He gained lasting recognition as the captain of HMS Beagle on Charles Darwin's renowned journey.
This voyage was FitzRoy's second exploration of Tierra del Fuego and the Southern Cone.
FitzRoy's story of the Beagle's voyage, including the former captain's notes was published in May 1839.
In 1841 FitzRoy was elected as a Tory as one of the two Members of Parliament for Durham.
He was appointed Acting Conservator of the River Mersey in 1842.
On top of his travel and political exploits, FitzRoy was a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate daily weather predictions, which he called by a new name of his own invention "forecasts".
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The Met Office reports that its first data collection involved daily weather recordings at 9am from specific sites, referred to as stations, along the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
This data was then transmitted to the Meteorological Office in London via the telegraph system, which was the most advanced technology available at the time.
This information consisted of pressure, temperature, wind direction and force, cloud amount, and various weather conditions for each location.
The Daily Weather Reports, later named the Daily Weather Summary in 1980, represent the longest continuous data series in the National Meteorological Archive.
Using this data, Fitzroy pioneered meteorology and forecasting by unlawfully initiating a national Storm Warning Service in 1861.
It was first published in The Times on August 1, 1861, providing general 24-48 hour predictions with simple terminology and wind direction details.
However, there was backlash for any errors that cropped up and it eventually took a toll on Fitzroy’s health.
The Shipping Forecast is still broadcast on longwave Radio 4 at four precise times a day: 0048, 0520, 1201 and 1754.
When did Vice Admiral Robert FitzRoy die?
Fitzroy’s final entry was written on March 20, 1865, just a few weeks before he took his own life on April 30, 1865.
It is believed that internal and external troubles at the Met Office, financial concerns as well as failing health, and his struggle with depression took their toll.
He passed away having depleted his entire wealth of around £6,000 (equivalent to £944,757.51 in 2024) on public spending.
Was Met Office founder Vice-Admiral Robert Fitzroy married?
FitzRoy had been married twice.
He married Mary Henrietta O'Brien, a young woman to whom he had long been engaged, after the Beagle's return on 2 October 1836.
After the death of his first wife, he married Maria Isabella Smyth, who happened to be a descendent of the politician John Smyth in 1854.
Following his own death, his friend and colleague Bartholomew Sulivan began the Admiral FitzRoy Testimonial Fund to stop FitzRoy's family from living in destitution.
He was able to persuade the government to contribute £3,000 towards the cause.
Even Darwin donated £100 to the fund.
Queen Victoria gave them the special privilege of living in their grace and favour apartments at Hampton Court Palace.
Did Met Office founder Vice Admiral Robert FitzRoy have any children?
FitzRoy had four children with his first wife Mary Henrietta O'Brien.
They were named Emily-Unah, Fanny, Katherine, and Robert O'Brien.
He had one daughter with his second wife, whom they called Laura Maria Elizabeth.