George Biddell Airy was a British astronomer and mathematician, born on July 27, 1801. He is best known for his work as the Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881, where he made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including the development of the Airy disk, which describes the diffraction pattern of light. Airy also played a crucial role in the establishment of the Royal Greenwich Observatory as a leading center for astronomical research. His studies on the Earth's atmosphere and the measurement of the Earth's gravitational field helped advance the understanding of celestial mechanics and navigation.