John Rand Capron (1829–1888) FRAS was an English amateur scientist, astronomer and photographer. Though a solicitor by profession, he became an expert on spectroscopy, particularly in relation to the aurora, and published many articles during his lifetime.[1]
He is also remembered for a speculative letter, in the scientific journal Nature on early examples of "crop circles", in which he suggested they were caused by "cyclonic wind action".[2]
Capron was born on 19 February 1829 in St. Leonards, Shoreditch, London, the son of a leather merchant. Educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, he was articled to his uncle John Capron, a prominent Guildford solicitor.[3] He entered into partnership with his uncle in 1850, and was also appointed Borough Coroner and Clerk of the Peace.[1]
His obituary in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society described how at while at school, during convalescence from an attack of typhoid fever, he had been lent a microscope, which "opened out a new world of wonder and beauty" for him.[4] Although initially interested in biology, fossils and the study of geology, he later developed a particular enthusiasm for the study of spectroscopy and astronomy, building a private observatory at Guildown on the "Hog's Back", Surrey. In 1877 he published a significant work on "Photographed Spectra", which provided reference photographs of the spectra of various elements.[5] In 1879 he extended this into a study of the characteristics of the aurora, and in 1883 published an analysis of an extremely unusual phenomenon observed during the aurora of 17 November 1882; Capron was one of the first scientists to seriously research the nature of aurorae, particularly from a spectrographic perspective.[6] He also conducted experiments on atmospheric electrical charges, fixing a "corona" of platinum wires on top of Booker's Tower on the Hog's Back, linked by wires to his observatory.[7]
Capron was a prominent local philanthropist and was described as "ever ready, though in the most unostentatious manner, to afford aid and succour to those in poverty and distress".[8] A contributor to The English Mechanic and World of Science commented "I have heard - what he tried hard enough to hide - that the good he did among the poor was something remarkable. Few men indeed possessing his wealth and leisure have devoted them more ungrudgingly to the benefit of others".[9] He died on 12 November 1888 in Eastbourne.
A fir plantation near Normandy, Surrey, which Capron owned, still has the name "Rand's Plantation".[6] The Surrey History Centre in Woking holds a collection of photographs believed to have been taken by Capron.[10] The Guildford Institute Library in Guildford holds a collection of four albums of original sketches made by Capron on his travels in Britain and Europe.[11]
Capron married Fanny Nibblett (1820–1909) in June 1856. They had one son, born in 1858.[1]
In addition to many shorter articles, Capron published the following books: