Herschel, William, 1738-1822

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William Herschel(b. November 15, 1738, Hannover, Germany–d. August 25, 1822, Slough, England) was a British astronomer and composer, and brother of fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel, with whom he worked.

Herschel constructed his first large telescope in 1774, after which he spent nine years carrying out sky surveys to investigate double stars. Herschel published catalogues of nebulae in 1802 (2,500 objects) and in 1820 (5,000 objects). In the course of an observation on 13 March 1781, he realized that one celestial body he had observed was not a star, but a planet, Uranus. This was the first planet to be discovered since antiquity and Herschel became famous overnight. As a result of this discovery, George III appointed him Court Astronomer.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Violino solo VI [microform] / composito a Leeds, the 20th of January 1763, Wm. Herschel. University of North Texas Library, UNT
creatorOf Herschel Family. Papers, 1721-1951, (bulk 1810-1871). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Concerto no. 2, d minor, for viola and string orchestra [microfilm] / Herschel. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf [Sir William Herschel, biographical materials] University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, 1778-1790. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Sei sonate per il cembalo, cogli accompagnamenti di violino e violoncello [microform] / composte da Federico Herschel. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Pfaff, Johann Wilhelm Andreas, 1774-1835. Papers. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. The concerto in F major for viola, strings and continuo of Sir William Herschel. Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Autograph letter signed : Slough, to J. Baker, Esq., 1789 Apr. 21. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Letters of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., collected and edited by George Birkbeck Hill, extra-illustrated, 1413-1900 (inclusive), 1775-1839 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Concerto con oboe obligato / Wm. Herschel. Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library
referencedIn Burney, Charles, 1726-1814,. Autograph letter signed, typescript letter, and diary excerpt from Charles Burney [manuscript], [1779-1801]. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, 1780-1822. Houghton Library
referencedIn The Comets of 1807 and 1811, 1833. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Papers of Sir William Herschel (1738-1822) and his son Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871), 19th century Edinburgh University Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. 25 Variations upon the ascending scale of the Treble, accompanied by the descending scale of the Base [microform] University of North Texas Library, UNT
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Concerto no. 1, C major, for viola and string orchestra [microfilm] / Herschel. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn [Commonplace book], [ca. 1790-1810]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. [Papers from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London], 1800. New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Scholes Library
referencedIn Edward Piggott letterbook, 1802-1806, 1802-1806 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, ca.1781-1784. American Institute of Physics
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Sei sonate per il cembalo [microform] / Fr. Wm. Herschel. University of North Texas Library, UNT
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, [n.d.]. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Herschel, Caroline Lucretia, 1750-1848. Paper. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Jean André DeLuc papers, 1746-1847 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Royal Greenwich Observatory. William Henry Mahoney Christie Papers, 1878-1940. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, 1780-1818. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Royal Observatory, Greenwich. John Pond Papers, 1811-1835. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Pungileoni, Luigi, 1762-1844. Herschel o sieno i cieli, poemetto di Leonildo Careo : P.A. con annotazioni : manuscript, [ca. 1803]. Houghton Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Concerto no. 4, F major, for viola and string orchestra [microfilm] / Herschel. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Osborne, W. A. (William Alexander), b. 1873. Papers of William Alexander Osborne [manuscript]. Libraries Australia
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. XII solos & XXIV capricios [microform] / da F. Wm. Herschel. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Barchas, Cecile M.,. Portrait prints of scientists, 1473-1898. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Herapath, John, 1798-1868. Letter. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Letter addressed to Mr. Wollaston ... September 13, 1789: announcing that he had found that Saturn has a satellite which had previously escaped observation. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Rare Books
creatorOf Astronomical papers, 1796-1805. Houghton Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Signature. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Symphonia da camera : in G minor (August 20, 1761) / Herschel ; edited by Douglas Townsend. Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library
referencedIn Luc, J. A. de (Jean André), 1727-1817. Jean André DeLuc papers, 1746-1847 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn João Jacinto de Magalhães (Jean-Hyacinthe Magellan) Collection, 1774-1788 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Commonplace book on astronomy, autograph manuscript, 1759. Linda Hall Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Letters by Sir William Herschel, 1777-1807. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Piggott, Edward, fl. 1758-1807. Letterbook, 1802-1806. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), Sir, 1792-1871. Papers, 1810-1917 (inclusive), 1830-1866 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Letter : to Edward Pigott, 1783 Mar. 3 and undated. Houghton Library
referencedIn Herschel Family Papers Manuscript Collection MS-1931., 1721-1951 (bulk 1810-1871) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Papers, 1773-1821. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Sir William Herschel papers, 1780-1822. Houghton Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Three papers, 1800 / Herschel. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Sir William Herschel papers, [n.d.], n.d. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Ampère, André-Marie, 1775-1836. Ampère manuscript collection, 1795-1830. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Astronomical papers, 1796-1805. Houghton Library
referencedIn Blagden, Charles, Sir, 1748-1820. [Letterbook], 1783 Aug 12 - 1787 May 16. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Herschel, Isabella, 1831-1893. The catalogue of the Library at Collingwood as in 1889 : autograph manuscript, [1889 and before]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Herschel, William, Sir, 1738-1822. Names of correspondents, nd, and account of printed papers together with list of persons to whom Herschel gave presentation copies of his works, 1821. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Royal Greenwich Observatory. Nevil Maskselyne Papers, ca. 1743-ca. 1822. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Contemporary engravings [manuscript] ca. 1600-ca. 1825. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith Ampère, André-Marie, 1775-1836. person
associatedWith Baker, J., person
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, 1743-1820. person
associatedWith Bath Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Blagden, Charles, Sir, 1748-1820. person
associatedWith Bologna Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Bonaparte, Lucien, prince de Canino, 1775-1840. person
associatedWith Burney, Charles, 1726-1814, person
sibling of Caroline Herschel person
associatedWith Cavallo, Tiberius, 1749-1809. person
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Davy, Humphry, Sir, 1778-1829. person
associatedWith Dibner, Bern, person
associatedWith Dr. Watson person
associatedWith E. C. Pickering person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Edmond Rack. person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Flamsteed, John, 1646-1719, person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
correspondedWith Goodridge, John, 1764-1786 person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Herapath, John, 1798-1868. person
sibling of Herschel, Caroline person
sibling of Herschel, Caroline, 1750-1858. person
sibling of Herschel, Caroline Lucretia, 1750-1848. person
associatedWith Herschel family family
associatedWith Herschel Family family
associatedWith Herschel Family. family
associatedWith Herschel, Isabella, 1831-1893. person
associatedWith Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), Sir, 1792-1871. person
associatedWith Herschel's person
associatedWith Herschel, Sir William, 1738-1822 person
associatedWith Hunter, John, 1728-1793. person
associatedWith Jenner, Edward, 1749-1823. person
associatedWith J. L. E. Dreyer person
correspondedWith Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784 person
associatedWith King George III. person
associatedWith Luc, J. A. de (Jean André), 1727-1817. person
associatedWith Luc, J. A. de (Jean André), 1763-1847 person
associatedWith Magalhães, João Jacinto de, 1722-1790 person
associatedWith Maskelyne person
associatedWith Michell, John, 1724?-1793 person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
correspondedWith Osborne, W. A. (William Alexander), b. 1873. person
associatedWith Pfaff, Johann Wilhelm Andreas, 1774-1835. person
associatedWith Piggott, Edward, fl. 1758-1807. person
associatedWith Pigott, Edward, person
correspondedWith Pigott, Edward, fl. 1768-1807 person
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Pungileoni, Luigi, 1762-1844. person
associatedWith Rack, Edmund, 1735?-1787. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Royal Greenwich Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Royal Observatory, Greenwich. corporateBody
associatedWith Royal Society (Great Britain) corporateBody
associatedWith Royce, Robert F. person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Schröter, Johann Hieronymus, 1745-1816. person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Sir Joseph Banks. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomas Curtis. person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith Townsend, Douglas. person
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Music Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Wheatland, David P., person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Hannover 06 DE
England ENG GB
Subject
Astronomers
Astronomical observations
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Comets
Concertos (Oboe)
Concertos (Viola with string orchestra)
Double stars
Harpsichord music
Heat
Instrumental music
Music
Music
Nebulae
Nebulae
Oboe with chamber orchestra
Reflecting telescopes
Reflecting telescopes
Science
Solar heating
Sonatas (Harpsichord, violin, violoncello)
Stars
Stars
Sunspots
Symphonies (Chamber orchestra)
Telescopes
Trio sonatas (Violin, violoncello, continuo)
Uranus (planet)
Violin and continuo music
Occupation
Musicians
Astronomers
Astronomers
Astronomers
Activity

Person

Birth 1738-11-15

Death 1822-08-25

Britons

English

Information

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