By taking daily observations of temperature, rainfall, atmospheric pressure and wind direction, Luke Howard became a pioneer of urban climate studies. Howard collected data using specially made instruments, commissioning this rain gauge, one of the earliest of its type, from the London-based instrument-makers Richard and George Knight. Howard's observations for the period 1807-1830 were published in successive editions of 'The Climate of London' - arguably the first textbook on weather recording and climatology.
