John Pond, an English astronomer, born about 1767, died at Blackheath, Sept. 7, 1836. He studied under Wales, who had been astronomer to Capt. Cook's expedition, and at Trinity college, Cambridge. Settling at Westbury near Bristol, he made a series of observations from which he deduced that the quadrant then in use in Greenwich for the determination of declinations had changed its form since 1750; and this result was verified by measurement. In 1807 he removed to London, and in 1811 was appointed astronomer royal. He had only a superficial knowledge of mathematics, but was an exact and diligent observer, and devoted his attention chiefly to determining the places of the fixed stars. He invented the method of observing in groups, and was the first astronomer who advocated the now universal practice of depending upon masses of observations for all fundamental data. He translated La Place's Systeme du monde, and in 1833 published a catalogue of fixed stars, which was much the most perfect of its time.

He retired upon a pension in 1835.