British Naval Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (1805 Inches 1865) achieved lasting fame as the captain of HMS Beagle during Charles Darwin's famous voyage. FitzRoy was a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate daily weather predictions, which he called by a new name of his own invention: "forecasts".
FitzRoy strove to make weather information more widely available for the safety of shipping and fishermen and the invention of several different types of barometers was attributed to him. These became popular and continued in production into the 20th century, characteristically engraved with Admiral FitzRoy's special remarks on interpretation, such as: "When rising: In winter the rise of the barometer presages frost."
This particular example is oak, with decorative carving.
