biography
| name: |
Herschel, Sir (Frederick) William
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| |
originally Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel
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pronunciation:
[hershl]
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1738–1822)
|
| biography:
| Astronomer, born in Hanover, NC Germany. He moved to England to escape the French occupation of Hanover (1757), became a music teacher (1766), then took up astronomy and the construction of ever more powerful reflecting telescopes. He discovered the planet Uranus in 1781, and became famous overnight, being appointed private astronomer to George III. He continued his research at Slough, S England, assisted by his sister Caroline and his son John, adding greatly to knowledge of the Solar System, of the Milky Way, and of the nebulae. He found two satellites of Saturn, extensively observed double stars, and produced a notable star catalogue. He was knighted in 1816. His house in Bath has been restored as a museum. |
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