HERSCHEL

Sir John Frederick William , 1 Baronet ( only child of Sir Fried rich Wilhelm Herschel, astronomer 1738–1822 ). b. Slough, Bucks. 7 March 1792; ed. at Hitcham, Eton and St. John’s coll. Cam., senior wrangler, Smith’s prizeman and fellow of his coll. 1813; B.A. 1813, M.A. 1816; F.R.S. 27 May 1813, member of council, one of secretaries 1824–7, royal medallist 1833, 1836 and 1840; a founder of R. Astronomical soc. 1820, wrote the inaugural addre , first foreign secretary 1824–7, medallist 1826, 1836, president 1827; discovered 525 new nebulae; discovered double stars; made researches and discoveries in light, heat and photography, one of the greatest men since Sir Isaac Newton; K.H. 12 Oct. 1831; baronet 17 July 1838; lord rector of Marischal college, Aberdeen, March 1842; master of the mint 13 Dec. 1850, resigned Feb. 1855; president of British a ociation at Cambridge meeting 1845; one of the 8 foreign members of Institute of France 23 July 1855; wrote upwards of 150 scientific papers; author of Results of astronomical observations made 1834–8 at Cape of Good Hope being the completion of a survey of the heavens 1847; A manual of scientific enquiry, for the use of the navy 1849, 5 ed. 1886; Outlines of astronomy 1849, 10 ed. 1869; Familiar lectures on scientific subjects 1866; The Iliad of Homer translated into accentuated hexameters 1866. d. Colling wood, Hawk hurst, Kent 11 May 1871. bur. Westminster abbey 19 May. Dunkin’s Obituary notices of astronomers (1879) 47–85; Martin eau’s Biog. sketches (1876) 449–67; Monthly notices R. Astronom. soc. xxxii , 122–42 (1872); Illust. News of World, ix (1862), portrait ; Year book of facts (1846), portrait .