Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), 1792-1871

Engineer and Astronomer. Fellow of the Royal Society.

From the description of Letters to Sir W. R. Hamilton, 1833-1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78514949

Astronomer. Fellow of the Royal Society.

From the description of Letters to J. D. Forbes, 1832-1859. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86123372

From the description of Papers, 1816-1868. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80362531

John F. W. Herschel was an English mathematician, astronomer, chemist, and experimental photographer/inventor, who also did valuable botanical work. His father was astronomer Sir Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel. His son, Sir William James Herschel was a British officer in India who is credited with being the first European to note the value of fingerprints for identification; he is the author of several publications about the importance and use of fingerprints as identification.

From the description of Letter to Sir Charles Wood, 1864, February 1. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 769451864

Son of Sir William Herschel F.R.S. 1781, the astronomer. Educated at St. John's College, Cambridge and graduated B.A. 1813 as Senior Wrangler and 1st Smith's prizeman and was elected F.R.S. 1813 at 21 yrs. of age. M.A. 1816. Copley Medallist 1821. He carried out astronomical observations at the observatory of Sir James South F.R.S. 1821 in Blackman St. Southwark. He travelled in Italy and Switzerland with Charles Babbage F.R.S. 1816. Secretary of Royal Society 1824. In 1831 he was created a Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. In 1833 he went to South Africa and set up an observatory at Feldhausen and made many observations. Returned to England in 1838 and was created Baronet. Royal Medal R.S. 1840 Copley Medallist (2nd time) 1847. Master of the Mint 1850-1855.

From the description of Items in various series of The Royal Society, ca. 1816-ca. 1870. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77631683

John Herschel was a British astronomer and successor to his father, Sir William Herschel, in the field of stellar and nebular observation and discovery.

From the description of Papers, 1810-1917 (inclusive), 1830-1866 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 78375079

From the guide to the Sir John F. W. Herschel papers, 1810-1917 (inclusive), 1830-1866 (bulk)., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

John F. W. Herschel was a British astronomer.

From the description of Correspondence, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 173466054

From the guide to the Sir John F. W.(John Frederick William) Herschel correspondence, [n.d.], n.d., (American Philosophical Society)

English astronomer.

From the description of Autograph copy of verses entitled "Intelligence" signed with initials : [n.p.], 1857 Apr. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269605879

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Great Portland St., London, to "Dear D'Arblay", "Tuesday morning" [ca. 1820]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270468344

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Collingwood, to an unidentified astronomer, 1868 Feb. 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270467415

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Collingwood, to Wm. Vaughan, 1841 Nov. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270466912

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Collingwood, to the Rev. Prof. Henslow, 1843 May 7. (Morgan Library & Museum). WorldCat record id: 84143286

Astronomer, chemist, and statesman of science; Fellow of the Royal Society.

From the description of Photographic experiments, 1839-1844. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82591263

From the description of Correspondence, 1845-1864. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81212216

John F.W. Herschel was a British astronomer.

From the description of Correspondence, 1817-1871. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122589325

Astronomer.

From the description of Papers, 1832-1886. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80601710

From the description of Papers, 1840-1842. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83157736

From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154306703

From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154306705

From the description of Correspondence with Charles Babbage, 1819-1870. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80881834

From the description of Papers, 1852-1866. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155003702

Sir John Frederick William Herschel, astronomer, was born in Slough, Berkshire, England on March 7, 1792. He graduated from Cambridge in 1813 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in the same year. Herschel took an active part in the foundation of the Royal Astronomical Society and later served as its president. From 1834-1838, he conducted a scientific expedition in South Africa to survey the southern hemisphere. Herschel died on May 11, 1871 in Collingwood, Kent, England. He was widely recognized as the leading British scientist of his day, and he contributed important advances in mathematics, physics, photochemistry, philosophy of science, and above all, astronomy.

From the description of Letters and papers of Sir John Herschel, 1820-1870 (inclusive), [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122452686

Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871) was an astronomer and prominent member of several British scientific societies of his day.

J. F. W. Herschel was born at Slough, England, March 7, 1792. His father, Sir William Herschel, was a renowned astronomer. After studying at Dr. Gretton’s School at Hitcham, and at Eton, J. F. W. Herschel was educated at home by a mathematician by the name of Rogers. Herschel graduated as Senior Wrangler from St. Johns College, Cambridge at the age of seventeen. He founded, along with George Peacock and Charles Babbage, the Analytical Society of Cambridge – an intellectual discussion group which encouraged its members to “do their best to leave the world wiser than they found it.” In 1813 Herschel was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.

In 1814 he entered as a student at Lincoln’s Inn to study law. He turned, however, to science. He reported in his journal on the 10 September, 1816 that he is “going under my father’s direction to take up stargazing.” Herschel distinguished himself in astronomy for the rest of his life.

Herschel co-founded the Royal Astronomical Society, and served two terms as president, starting in 1827. In 1829 he married Margaret Brodie. In 1831 he was knighted. Of particular scientific interest to Herschel were double stars and sun spots. He made numerous advances in the development of telescopes and microscopes, as well as the fields of magnetism and optics. He published one hundred fifty two papers and was a trustee of the British Museum.

J. F. W. Herschel died in 1871 and was buried in Westminster Abbey near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton.

From the guide to the Sir John F. W.(John Frederick William) Herschel correspondence, 1793-1874, 1793-1874, (American Philosophical Society)