Griffith Parry Jenkins (1860–1940) was a Welsh-Canadian astronomer and community leader best remembered as the first President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Hamilton Centre. Serving from 1909 to 1910, Jenkins played a pivotal role in establishing the Hamilton Centre and nurturing early amateur astronomy in the city. This article chronicles his life—from his origins in Wales and career in banking, to his passion for astronomy, contributions to the RASC, and legacy in the Hamilton community.
Early Life in Wales and Love of Astronomy
Griffith Parry Jenkins was born in 1860 in Llancynfelin, near Aberystwyth in Cardiganshire (Ceredigion), Wales . He was the eldest son of Richard and Jane Jenkins of “Henafod” farm in that parish . Though trained as a banker, Jenkins developed a serious interest in astronomy as a young man. He joined the Astronomical Society of Wales in the 1890s and became an active member of Wales’s growing amateur astronomy community .
Jenkins was particularly enthusiastic about telescope making and astrophotography. He favored silver-on-glass reflecting telescopes at a time when many amateurs still used refractors. In fact, Jenkins was a personal friend of famed British telescope-maker George Henry With, and both men were admirers of the work of Rev. T. W. Webb . Jenkins himself owned or had access to a large reflector (16-inch aperture) – he even managed to photograph the Moon through it on February 14, 1891 . This early lunar photograph, published in the Journal of the Astronomical Society of Wales, attests to Jenkins’s skill and pioneering spirit in astrophotography. His astronomical pursuits earned him recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (F.R.A.S.) in Britain , a title he would proudly use in later years.
Professionally, Jenkins rose through the ranks of banking in Wales. By the turn of the century he was a bank manager in Colwyn Bay, North Wales . However, in 1902 Jenkins made a momentous decision: he emigrated to Canada . He was 42 years old and brought with him not only his family (he was married, though his wife’s name is not recorded here) but also a deep passion for astronomy and valuable connections to the wider astronomical world.
New Beginnings in Canada: Hamilton’s Astronomer-Banker
Upon arriving in Ontario in 1902, Jenkins settled in the Hamilton area and likely continued his profession in the banking sector. Before long, he also connected with local scientific circles. He joined the Hamilton Association for the Cultivation of Science, Literature and Art – an important forum for learned citizens – and by 1908 he was serving as its Corresponding Secretary . His knowledge and enthusiasm for astronomy stood out.
Jenkins became a driving force behind an informal Hamilton Astronomical Club that emerged in the mid-1900s. He was “one of the leading members” of the Hamilton amateur astronomy community between 1905 and 1908 . During this time, he helped organize observing sessions and talks, inspiring others with his experience from Wales. Notably, in August 1905 Jenkins participated in a major scientific expedition – he traveled with the Canadian Government Eclipse Expedition to Labrador to observe the total solar eclipse of 1905 . Jenkins came equipped with multiple cameras and contributed to the success of that expedition, later writing a detailed report, “With the Canadian Government Eclipse Expedition to Labrador, 1905,” published in the Hamilton Association’s journal . This expedition allowed Jenkins to collaborate with leading astronomers of the day and further establish his reputation.
By 1907–1908, Jenkins and his colleagues saw an opportunity to formally affiliate with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). At the time, the RASC (founded in Toronto in 1868) was encouraging the formation of “Centre” branches in other cities. Jenkins, with his F.R.A.S. credentials and extensive network, was the ideal champion for Hamilton’s cause. He had even retained ties to the RASC’s Toronto astronomers through correspondence – for example, he wrote to RASC officers in early 1909 about enlisting notable figures to support astronomy .
Founding of the Hamilton Centre of the RASC
The efforts culminated on January 15, 1909, when the Hamilton Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada was officially established. The existing Hamilton Astronomical Society voted to merge into the new RASC Centre, and Jenkins was unanimously chosen as its first President . His leadership and prestige were key in legitimizing the Centre. In the minutes of that inaugural meeting, he is listed as “President – G. Parry Jenkins, F.R.A.S.” . The Hamilton Centre started strong, with about 56 charter members enrolled by the end of the first meeting .
Excerpt from the Hamilton Centre’s inaugural minutes (Jan. 1909) listing G. P. Jenkins, F.R.A.S., as President . Jenkins’s leadership transformed the local club into an official RASC Centre.
As President, Jenkins threw himself into organizing and promoting the Centre’s activities. He initiated public lectures and observing events to raise the profile of astronomy in Hamilton. For the Centre’s first general meeting, Jenkins personally arranged for Dr. Clarence Chant – the prominent Toronto astronomer – to visit Hamilton and give an illustrated lecture on the Moon . Jenkins also oversaw an extensive publicity campaign: the new Centre printed 500 circulars explaining its purpose and sent notices to the local press . Thanks in large part to his outreach, the Hamilton Centre gained significant media attention and community interest from the start.
Griffith Jenkins had a knack for enlisting influential supporters. In 1909 he persuaded the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, the Hon. John M. Gibson, to become an honorary member of the Hamilton Centre . This was a considerable boost to the Centre’s prestige. In a January 1909 letter to a fellow RASC official, Jenkins noted that he had received the Lieutenant-Governor’s application and suggested using the occasion to bring more prominence to Society events . Indeed, the Centre’s minutes of Feb. 2, 1909 proudly record that “the Hon. J. M. Gibson, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario became a member of the Hamilton Centre” . Jenkins’s ability to connect astronomy with community leaders helped lay a strong foundation for the Centre.
Under Jenkins’s guidance, the Hamilton Centre flourished in its first year. Regular meetings, “conversaziones” (social nights with scientific demonstrations), and observing sessions were held. Jenkins often shared his own telescopes and expertise at these gatherings. Though he served formally as President only until 1910 (the Centre adopted annual elections), his impact was lasting. Reverend Dr. D. B. Marsh, one of Jenkins’s contemporaries, later recalled how Jenkins’s enthusiasm and depth of knowledge inspired the early members of the Centre . Many of those he mentored – such as W. E. Harper and L. L. Scriven – went on to be stalwarts of the Hamilton Centre in subsequent decades.
Contributions to Astronomy and RASC
Beyond his administrative role, Griffith Parry Jenkins contributed intellectually to astronomy in Canada. In 1911, he authored a substantial article in the Journal of the RASC titled “A Plea for the Reflecting Telescope.” In this piece, Jenkins advocated for greater use of reflecting telescopes by amateurs, drawing on his personal experiences in Wales and Canada . The article ran from pages 59–75 in the 1911 journal, indicating its thoroughness . (Interestingly, he had published a version of this plea in Wales before emigrating, and now updated it for the Canadian audience.) Jenkins’s eloquent writing in defense of reflectors helped influence many Canadian amateurs to consider mirror telescopes at a time when lens telescopes were more common.
Jenkins also enriched the RASC’s historical collections. In 1910 he donated an extraordinary item to the Society’s archives: an original observing notebook that had once belonged to the renowned 19th-century British astronomer Rev. T. W. Webb . Jenkins had acquired this notebook back in 1889 while living in Hereford, England (where Webb had served), and he had kept it as a treasured memento . Recognizing its value, he gifted it to the RASC. This Webb notebook, filled with meticulous notes and celestial sketches, became a centerpiece of the Society’s archival collection. It was noted at the time that Jenkins’s gift provided a tangible link to Webb’s legacy and the golden era of amateur astronomy . Such gestures demonstrated Jenkins’s deep appreciation for astronomy’s history and his generous spirit in sharing it with future generations.
Although based in Hamilton, Jenkins maintained correspondence with RASC members nationwide and in his homeland. He was held in high esteem by his peers. There is evidence he may have presented papers to the Royal Society of Canada as well, on broader scientific or philosophical topics . Within Hamilton, he continued to support the Centre as an elder statesman even after his presidency. His advice was frequently sought by new members and he often lent equipment for public outreach events. In short, Jenkins became a beloved figure in Canadian amateur astronomy – a bridge between the venerable traditions of the Old World and the burgeoning scientific culture of the New World.
Family and Community Life
Outside of astronomy, Griffith Parry Jenkins was known as a courteous and learned gentleman. In Hamilton he worked in business (likely continuing in banking or financial services) and was often simply referred to as a “businessman” by those who knew him . He and his wife raised a family in Canada. They had at least two children: a son, Archibald (“Archie”) Jenkins, and a daughter whose name isn’t recorded in available sources. Jenkins’s community involvement extended to other cultural activities – for instance, he gave talks reminiscing about life in Wales, indicating an active role in Welsh-Canadian circles as well .
In later years, Jenkins moved from Hamilton to Toronto (perhaps after retiring). In the 1930s he lived with or near his daughter and her husband in the Toronto suburb of Mimico. Even then, he kept up his RASC membership and followed astronomical developments with interest.
Griffith Parry Jenkins passed away on December 7, 1941 at his daughter’s home in Mimico, just shy of his 82nd birthday . (One source lists 1940 as the year of death, but contemporary reports confirm it was at the end of 1941.) He was 81 years old. According to a death notice, his daughter (Mrs. Arthur Scoones) was by his side, and his son Archie – then living in New York – survived him . The Journal of the RASCbriefly marked his passing, noting the loss of a pioneer of the Hamilton Centre .
Legacy
Griffith Parry Jenkins’s legacy lives on in the RASC Hamilton Centre and beyond. As the Centre’s first president and one of its founding members, he laid the organizational groundwork that allowed the Hamilton Centre to thrive for over a century. The Hamilton Centre’s archives still hold some of Jenkins’s correspondence and documents, providing insight into those formative days in 1909. Every time Hamilton Centre members gather under the stars at their observatory or host public stargazing nights, they are in a sense following the trail blazed by Jenkins and his colleagues.
Jenkins is remembered not only for his administrative leadership but also for his scientific contributions: he helped introduce modern reflecting telescopes to Canadian amateurs, brought astronomical knowledge from Wales to enrich Canadian astronomy, and even contributed historically significant artifacts to the Society. The notebook he donated – containing Webb’s notes on celestial objects – remains preserved in the RASC archives as a symbol of the continuity of astronomical passion from one generation to the next .
Fittingly, Griffith Parry Jenkins was a man who united business acumen, scientific curiosity, and community spirit. He was, in one contemporary’s words, a “scholarly yet unassuming gentleman” who could converse as easily about banking or literature as about double stars and lunar craters. In Hamilton’s astronomical lore, Jenkins occupies a special place as the Centre’s “Founding President” and one of the key figures who kindled a lasting interest in the night sky for the people of this city. Over a hundred years later, the RASC Hamilton Centre honors his memory as part of its rich heritage.
Sources:
• Jenkins’s Welsh background and emigration: Bryn Jones, Antiquarian Astronomer, Issue 8 (2014) .
• Role in Hamilton and founding of RASC Centre: RASC Archives (Hamilton Centre minutes) ; Llangynfelyn historical notes .
• 1905 eclipse expedition account: Journal and Proceedings of the Hamilton Association, 1905–1906, as cited in Northern Star: J.S. Plaskett .
• Jenkins’s donation of Webb’s notebook: R.A. Rosenfeld, RASC Archives Catalogue (2008) .
• “A Plea for the Reflecting Telescope” and other writings: Journal of the RASC, Vol. 5 (1911) .
• Death notice: Llangynfelyn community archives .
