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was born at Alnwick in Northumberland on the 27th of July, 1801. His father, William Airy, was collector of the Excise duties for that district; his mother, Anna Biddell Airy, was the daughter of George Biddell, a well-to-do farmer in Suffolk. In 1810 William Airy was transferred to the county of Essex, and the family then settled in Colchester, the county town. Here George was first sent to a private school, where he got a good introduction to elementary mathematics; afterwards he was sent to the grammar school where he was initiated in Latin and Greek to the extent of being able to write Latin prose. He also got the usual instruction in Latin verse, but he did not excel in that kind of composition. On one occasion his father brought him a present from London, which had much influence on his future career—a terrestrial and a celestial globe. From this event he dated his interest in astronomy. Arthur Biddell, his mother's brother, lived on a farm at Playford, in Suffolk, and was a man of some scientific and literary culture, besides being interested in historical and antiquarian matters. George spent his holidays in this uncle's company and especially in his library; from this source originated an interest in mechanics, optics, poetry and antiquities. There he found the means of constructing a telescope for himself.

At school he distinguished himself, especially in memory work. Although not wanting in courage, he did not take an interest in athletic sports. It was the custom for each boy once a week to repeat a number of lines of Latin or Greek