The New Student's Reference Work/Greenwich

Green′wich (grĕn′ĭj), a city of Kent, England, and a suburb of London, is situated on the south side of the Thames, about five miles from London Bridge. It is chiefly notable for its public buildings, first among them being Greenwich Hospital, for the maintenance of British sailors. It consists of four parts, built successively by King Charles, King William, Queen Mary and Queen Anne. Its first pensioners were received in 1705, and in 1814 they numbered 2,710. Among other institutions Greenwich has a naval museum, the Royal Hospital School, established in 1712, and the Royal observatory built by Charles II in 1675. Greenwich is the place from which geographers reckon longitude. It has a population of 185,149. See The Palace and the Hospital by A. G. L'Estrange.