George Hadley

George Hadley (1685-1768) was an English lawyeramateur meteorologist who proposedatmospheric mechanism by whichtrade winds were sustained. Askey factorensuring that European sailing vessels reached North American shores,Trade Winds were as worthstudyHadley's day asstudy ofsolar windother extraterrestrial phenomena iscontemporary scientists considering manned lunarMartian expeditions. Hadley was intrigued byfact that winds which should by all rights have blown straight north hadpronounced westerly flow,it was this mystery he set outsolve.

Hadley was bornLondon, EnglandFebruary1685Katherine FitzJamesGeorge Hadley. He had an unremarkable childhood,was eclipsedhis early years by his older brother John,inventor ofreflecting telescope andoctant (a precursor tosextant).

In 1686, Edmond Halley proposed his theory attemptingexplainTrade Winds. While Halley's theory was successfuldescribingoverall circulation atequator,failed completely explainwestward component ofTrades. Hadbeen successfuldoing so, Hadley's historical presence would have been greatly diminished. However,realizing thatEarth's rotation playedcrucial role indirection taken bymoving airmass, Hadley earned fame.

Hadley was electedRoyal Fellow1745died1768.