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Administratively, it is a "great establishment" of the ministry charged with higher education, with a status close to that of a public university. Its missions include:
It is home to the International Time Bureau , and maintains a solar observatory at Meudon and a radio astronomy observatory at Nançay .
Its foundation lies in the ambitions of Jean-Baptiste Colbert to extend France's maritime power and international trade in the 17th Century. Louis XIV promoted its construction starting in 1667, its being completed in 1671. The architect was probably Claude Perrault whose brother, Charles, was secretary to Colbert and superintendent of public works. Optical instruments were supplied by Giuseppe Campani . The buildings were extended in 1730, 1810, 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l, 1850Events January 4 The first American ice-skating club is formed ( Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). January 29 Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the United States Congress February 28 University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah March 7 United, and 1951Events January events January 9 United Nations headquarters officially opens ( New York City). January 15 Ilse Koch, The "Witch of Buchenwald," wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, is sentenced to life imprisonment in a court in We. The last extension incorporates the spectacular Meridian room designed by Jean Prouvé .
The world's first national almanac, the Connaissance des temps was published by the observatory in 1679Events January 24 King Charles II of England disbands Parliament August 7 The brigantine Le Griffon which was commissioned by Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the, using eclipses in Jupiter's satellites to aid sea-fairers in establishing longitudeMap of Earth showing vertical lines of longitude Longitude sometimes denoted λ, describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. Longitude is given as an angular measurement ranging from 0° at. In 1863Events January-March January 1 Abraham Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation during the second year of the American Civil War. January 1 The first claim under the Homestead Act is made for a farm in Nebraska January 8 Ground is broken in Sacramen, the observatory published the first modern weather maps. In 1882, a 33 cm astrographic lens was constructed, an instrument that catalysed the ill-fated, international Carte du Ciel project.