John Herschel

Sir John Frederick William Herschel (7 March, 1792 – 11 May, 1871) was an English mathematician and astronomer. He was the son of astronomer William Herschel.

Early life and work on astronomy

Herschel was born at Slough, Buckinghamshire, and studied at Eton College and St John's College, Cambridge. He graduated as senior wrangler in 1813. It was during his time as an undergraduate that he became friends with Charles Babbage and George Peacock. He took up astronomy in 1816, building a reflecting telescope with a mirror 18 inches in diameter and with a 20 foot focal length. Between 1821 and 1823 he re-examined, with James South, the double stars catalogued by his father. For this work he was presented in 1826 with the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (which he would win again in 1836); and with the Lalande Medal of the French Institute in 1825; while the Royal Society had in 1821 bestowed upon him the Copley Medal for his mathematical contributions to their Transactions. He was knighted in 1831.

Related Topics:
Slough - Buckinghamshire - Eton College - St John's College, Cambridge - Wrangler - Charles Babbage - George Peacock - 1816 - 1821 - 1823 - James South - 1826 - Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society - 1836 - Lalande Medal - French Institute - 1825 - Royal Society - Copley Medal - 1831

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