Robert Grier, Astronomer

Robert Grier, Astronomer is a Georgia historical marker in Taliaferro County, dedicated 1956.

On Raytown Road near Sharon.

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On this land, on the plantation home of his father, Aaron Grier Sr., Revolutionary soldier, Robert Grier, founder of the nationally famous "Grier's Almanac," was born in 1782. The remarkable astronomical calculations which led to the publishing of the almanac were made on the large boulders in the fields near this road. First published in 1807 as "The Georgia and South Carolina Almanack," the almanac made Robert Grier's name a household word in the nation until his death in 1848. Published continually since its founding, it became "Grier's Almanac" soon after Robert Grier died. Circulation is almost 2 1/2 million copies annually.

Maps this old were drawn largely by eye, so places on them can sit miles from where they really are. The pin is ours and marks the marker's location today.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library

Historical maps covering this location

1776 · A general map of the southern British colonies in America comprehending North and South… (Digital Commonwealth, Boston Public Library)
1795 · State of South Carolina. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1816 · Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1816 · Georgia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1824 · Georgia. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

State of South Carolina, 1795, covering the location of Robert Grier, Astronomer, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — State of South Carolina, 1795, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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What that marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years there.

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This historical marker is part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program and was erected by the Georgia Historical Commission. Marker texts and locations come from the Society's own marker database.

More markers nearby

Grave of Brig Gen. Aaron W. Grierunder 1 mi
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Raytown Methodist Church1 mi
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