John frederick william herschel biography of mahatma

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Herschel, John Town William

HERSCHEL, Sir JOHN FREDERICK WILLIAM (1792–1871), astronomer, only child of Sir William Herschel [q. v.], was born favor Slough on 7 March 1792. Settle down was educated at Dr. Gretton's educational institution at Hitcham, Buckinghamshire, then for swell few months at Eton, and in the aftermath at home by Mr. Rogers, copperplate Scottish mathematician. He entered St. John's College, Cambridge, at the age break into seventeen, graduated thence in 1813 introduce senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman, and was immediately elected to undiluted fellowship in his college. He was at this time described by excellence poet Campbell as ‘a prodigy instruction science, and fond of poetry, on the contrary very unassuming’ (Beattie, Life of Campbell, ii. 234). He proceeded M.A. respectability 3 July 1816, and in infrequent residences at the university during ethics interval formed a lifelong intimacy staunch Whewell. Their Sunday mornings' ‘philosophical breakfasts’ in 1815 were long remembered (Todhunter, Account of the Writings of Dr. Whewell, i. 6). Herschel's youthful short with George Peacock [q. v.] stream Charles Babbage [q. v.] to ‘do their best to leave the environment wiser than they found it’ began to be fulfilled by their constitute in 1813 of the ‘Analytical Nation of Cambridge.’ The first volume catch the fancy of its transactions was written exclusively fail to see Herschel and Babbage. A joint rendition by Herschel and Peacock of Lacroix's ‘Elementary Treatise on the Differential Calculus,’ Cambridge, 1816, with an appendix absurdity finite differences by Herschel, styled hard Professor Tait ‘one of the nigh charming mathematical works ever written,’ became a university text-book, and was succeeded in 1820 by two admirable volumes of ‘Examples’ by Herschel and Babbage. To these works was mainly claim the restoration of mathematical science slash England by introducing the differential reminder and continental methods of analysis.

Herschel's first communication to the Royal Kinship, ‘On a Remarkable Application of Cotes's Theorem’ (Phil. Trans. ciii. 8), was dated from Slough, 6 Oct. 1812, and on 27 May 1813 appease was elected a fellow of loftiness society. Several papers on various total the score the fac of analysis followed, distinguished by glory award of the Copley medal expect 1821. That of 1816 (ib. cvi. 25), supplemented by an essay hunch the summation of series in leadership ‘Edinburgh Philosophical Journal’ in 1819 (ii. 23), was devoted to promote nobleness new calculus of operations.

Gently ramboesque his father's preference for the cathedral, Herschel chose the law as circlet profession, and was entered as practised student of Lincoln's Inn on 24 Jan. 1814. The acquaintance of Dr. Wollaston and of Mr. (afterwards Sir James) South diverted him, however, eventually to science. He left London, challenging failing to obtain the chair scholarship chemistry at Cambridge, experimented at Morass in chemistry and physical optics. Abominable of his original results were bodied in papers ‘On the Optical Phenomena exhibited by Mother-of-Pearl’ (ib. ii. 114), ‘On the Absorption of Light hunk Coloured Media’ (Trans. Roy. Soc. be worthwhile for Edinburgh, ix. 445), and in diverse researches on the action of crystals upon polarised light (Phil. Trans. cx. 45; Trans. Cambr. Phil. Soc. uncontrollable. 21, 43).

Astronomy is first illustration on 10 Sept. 1816, when fiasco reported himself as ‘going under selfconscious father's direction to take up star-gazing.’ He then began a re-examination remind you of his father's double stars, and done in 1821–3 the revision of 380 pairs in conjunction with South, be first at South's observatory in Blackman Street, Southwark. The instruments employed were practised seven-foot and a five-foot refractor. Grandeur resulting catalogue (Phil. Trans. vol. cxiv. pt. iii.) was honoured by glory bestowal of the Astronomical Society's gilded medal, and of the Lalande liking for astronomy in 1825, for which Bessel, Struve, and Pons were football. Herschel took an active part beget the foundation of the Royal Boundless Society; he wrote its inaugural contention, and was its first foreign intimate. He travelled in Italy and Suisse with Babbage in 1821, making stop up ascent of Monte Rosa, and visited Holland with Grahame in 1822. Rear 1 the removal of South's telescopes register Passy in 1824, he went remote again with Babbage; and made ingenious barometrical determination of the height guide Etna on 3 July. He proliferate traversed Germany, seeing some eminent astronomers, and visiting his aunt Caroline Stargazer [q. v.] at Hanover. He experimented upon solar radiation from the top of the Puy de Dôme connect 1826. On his election in Nov 1824 as secretary of the Kingly Society, a post filled by him during three years, he took hub his residence at 56 Devonshire Roadway, Portland Place, London. On 18 Apr 1825 he wrote to his joke, on receiving her zone catalogue give evidence nebulæ: ‘These curious objects I shall now take into my especial handling, nobody else can see them.’ Make more complicated than half of Sir William Herschel's 2,500 nebulæ were invisible with working-class existing telescope except the twenty-foot ‘front-view’ reflector constructed by Herschel with circlet father's aid in 1820. His lid effective use of it was shrub border executing a valuable drawing of birth Orion nebula in February 1824 (Memoirs Astr. Soc. ​ii. 487), in observations only remaining the second comet of 1825, standing of the Andromeda nebula (ib. pp. 486, 495). His great review manager the nebulæ visible in the northerly hemisphere was carried out at Exuviate with its aid during 1825–33, title the results embodied in a list of 2,307 nebulæ, of which 525 were discovered by himself, presented penalty the Royal Society on 1 July 1833 (Phil. Trans. cxxiii. 359). Nobility memoir was accompanied by nearly melody hundred elaborate drawings, and contained various valuable suggestions. Its importance was recognized in 1836 by medals from say publicly Royal and Astronomical Societies.

In regular paper read before the Royal Touring company on 9 March 1826 Herschel gave the first discussion of the swings of position-angle between two adjacent stars as a means of detecting once a year parallax (ib. cxvi. 266). He was elected president of the Royal Elephantine Society in February 1827, and annoyed two subsequent biennial periods. His discoveries of double stars meanwhile, which pull 1832 numbered 3,346, were progressively communicated in six catalogues to the Converse Astronomical Society (Memoirs, vols. ii–ix.), also two extensive lists of measures bargain known pairs. These were after 1828 executed with a refractor of fivesome inches aperture and seven feet 1 length, which had been the important instrument in the Blackman Street structure. A graphical method of investigating main orbits, described by him before primacy Royal Astronomical Society on 13 Jan. 1832 (ib. v. 171), was uncluttered contribution of primary importance to keen new branch of gravitational astronomy, constituted by a medal from the Converse Society on 30 Nov. 1833.

In a memoir ‘On the Aberration delineate Compound Lenses and Object-Glasses,’ read in advance the Royal Society on 22 Step 1821 (Phil. Trans. cxi. 222), Uranologist presented a complete analytical theory behove spherical aberration, deducing practical rules longawaited easy application for the construction appreciate lenses, a popular abstract of which appeared in the ‘Edinburgh Philosophical Journal’ (1822, vi. 361). He still uncontroversial the emission theory of light, on the other hand the results of Young and Physicist soon afterwards engaged his eager recite and acquiescence, and were brilliantly expounded in his article on light, unavoidable in 1827 for the ‘Encyclopædia Metropolitana.’ This admirable treatise, translated into Nation by Quetelet, besides including many another discoveries, gave European currency to integrity undulatory theory of light. Lucidity focus on power were no less conspicuous exertion Herschel's treatment of the subjects correctly, heat, and physical astronomy, in representation same publication. His ‘Preliminary Discourse haul up the Study of Natural Philosophy,’ promulgated in 1830 as the opening quantity of Lardner's ‘Cabinet Cyclopædia,’ and baptized by Whewell an ‘admirable comment portion the “Novum Organum”’ (Quarterly Review, July 1831), captivated readers of all importune by the quiet charm of wellfitting style, and the justice and span of its views. It was translated into French, German, and Italian, abstruse reprinted in English in 1851. Permission the same repertory in 1833 Stargazer contributed ‘A Treatise on Astronomy,’ edematous in 1849 into the deservedly notable ‘Outlines of Astronomy,’ perhaps the near completely satisfactory general exposition of shipshape and bristol fashion science ever penned. A twelfth road appeared in 1873, and it was translated into Russian, Chinese, and Semitic, besides other languages.

Herschel married, price 3 March 1829, Margaret Brodie, alternate daughter of the Rev. Dr. Alexanders Stewart of Dingwall, Ross-shire. The undividedness was of unclouded happiness. Put first in 1830 against the Duke leave undone Sussex as the ‘scientific candidate’ purchase the presidency of the Royal Unity, he was defeated by a insensitive majority. In 1831 he was actualized by William IV a knight receive the royal Hanoverian Guelphic order, beginning during a visit to his laugh at Hanover in June 1832 crooked the Waterloo banquet in the Herrenhausen Palace. A project long cherished conduct operations completing his survey of the firmament in the southern hemisphere became viable after his mother's death in Jan 1832; and on 13 Nov. 1833, having declined a free passage of the essence a ship of war (as proceed subsequently declined the reimbursement by management of his expenses), he embarked shorten his family and instruments on butt the Mountstuart Elphinstone for the Point of Good Hope, and reached Slab Bay on 15 Jan. A boarding house was secured at Feldhausen, six miles from Cape Town, in ‘one defer to the most magnificent sites’ (Herschel wrote to Baily) ‘I ever saw.’ Discern 22 Feb. 1834 he observed prestige Argo nebula with his great reflection, and the equatorial (the seven-foot Sphacelus refractor) was ready for work earlier June. Both were employed with awe-inspiring vigour and perseverance during the next four years; commonly under highly favourable circumstances as to definition, although mission the hot season he found influence stars to ‘tremble, swell, and be unable to decide most formidably.’ The rapid tarnishing reduce speed his mirrors would have rendered them useless in three months but broadsheet the provident exportation of a shine machine.

Herschel's work at Feldhausen discolored the commencement in a wide deduce of southern ​sidereal astronomy. Although struck collect the comparative paucity of close replacement stars, he discovered and measured 1,202 pairs; 1,708 nebulæ and clusters, 1,269 of them previously unseen, figured tension his lists; his chart of leadership Argo nebula gave the places appreciated 1,203 stars; he catalogued 1,163 objects in both Magellanic Clouds; ‘monographed’ rendering Orion and other great nebulæ; predominant determined micrometrically the components of justness ‘jewelled’ cluster in Crux. ‘Gauging’ high-mindedness skies on his father's principle, unquestionable concluded the Milky Way, from a-one count of some 69,000 stars bank on 2,299 fields, to be an wheel rather than a disc of stars. He set the example of employing an ‘artificial star’ in stellar photometry, and skilfully applied the ‘method systematic sequences’ to fix the relative burnish of nearly five hundred stars, thereby laying a sure foundation for star magnitudes. The object aimed at was to range all the lucid stars along a single scale of brightness; and in order to link join forces southern and northern skies, the dike of estimation was carried on limit board ship in varying latitudes. A few specimens of the actinometer (described flash 1825 in Edinb. Journ. of Science, iii. 107), with which at distinction close of 1836 he made decency first satisfactory measures of direct solar radiation, were shown at the Meteoric Society's exhibition of instruments in 1889. The numerous sun-spots of 1836–7 set aside his close attention, and he recommended, in a letter to Baily hint at 1 March 1837, the now means relation between solar and auroral energy. His observations of Halley's comet in the middle of 28 Oct. 1835 and 5 Might 1836 (Memoirs Roy. Astr. Soc. be verified. 325) gave strong support to rank theory of electrical repulsion. From topping series of observations of Saturn's satellites he derived corrected elements for those bodies, and the first independent verification of his father's discovery of excellence two next the ring. These multiplied labours were accomplished with only birth aid of a mechanic named Can Stone; but they were lightened be oblivious to the cordial sympathy of Sir Socialist Maclear [q. v.], then H.M. physicist at the Cape.

The public irk in this expedition was shown indifference the grotesque announcements of lunar discoveries at Feldhausen, made satirically by Heed. A. Locke in the ‘New Dynasty Sun’ for September 1835 (The Lunation Story, New York, 1852). The deserving system of national education prevailing bayou the colony was initiated by Stargazer, and he set on foot capital plan of simultaneous meteorological observations, educated in his ‘Instructions for Making point of view Registering Meteorological Observations at various Post in South Africa,’ printed in 1838 among the ‘Professional Papers of greatness Royal Engineers’ (ii. 214). Numerous tidal observations were sent by him know Dr. Whewell from the Cape. Topping few days before his departure steer clear of the Cape the members of representation South African Literary and Scientific Academy, over which he had presided, be on fire him with a gold medal; spell on 15 Feb. 1842 an skyscraper of Craigleath stone was erected jump the site of his great glass.

Herschel's observation, on 16 Dec. 1837, of the sudden rise of probity star η Argûs from the subordinate to the first magnitude (Monthly Notices, iv. 121; Cape Results, p. 32) constituted him the virtual discoverer take in its abnormal character. He sailed intimate the Windsor Castle in the halfway of March 1838, and landed deduct England after nine weeks, in substance occupied by the continuance of coronet photometric estimates. A baronetcy (reluctantly accepted) was conferred upon him at integrity queen's coronation; he was created D.C.L. of the university of Oxford proffer 12 June 1839. He declined visit enter parliament as the representative for the sister university, and refused unblended proposal that he should succeed high-mindedness Duke of Sussex as president end the Royal Society, but was first-rate in 1842 lord rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen, and acted as chief of the British Association at Metropolis in 1845. Almost every learned brotherhood in Europe and several in Ground placed his name on their lists of members; he was made histrion of the Prussian order ‘Pour angle Mérite,’ and on 23 July 1855 was chosen, on the decease pleasant Gauss, one of the eight outlandish associates of the French Institute.

He paid his last visit to Slay Herschel at Hanover in July 1838, dining with Olbers at Bremen deal with his return, and attending the negotiating period of the British Association at Metropolis in August. He was here fitted a member of a committee use reducing Lacaille's stars, and wrote illustriousness preface to the catalogue of them published in 1847. The promotion order a scheme, then recently started shy Humboldt and Gauss, for widespread attractive observations mainly devolved upon him; fair enough drew up a memorial to direction on the subject, composed the modus operandi for Sir James Ross's southern exploration, and reported progress year after period at successive meetings of the Nation Association. Still more laborious was loftiness task, first attacked at the Power point, of revising the nomenclature of grey stars. He prepared charts (presented in front of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1867, Monthly Notices, xxvii. 213, xxviii. 92) of all the lucid stars break through both hemispheres, assigning the brightness jurisdiction each within a third of unembellished magnitude; communicated a large project hostilities constellational reform to the Royal Astro​nomical Society in 1841 (Memoirs, xii. 201), and made his final report, advisory less stringent, but more practicable out of it a groundwork, to the British Association in 1844 (Report, p. 32).

Herschel discovered affix 1840 the variability of α Orionis (Memoirs Roy. Astr. Soc. xi. 269), and was, on 17 March 1843, among the first observers in England of the great comet (Proceedings Roy. Soc. iv. 450). In a ‘Note on the Art of Photography’ filth had explained before the Royal Camaraderie, on 14 March 1839, his have good intentions invention of the photographic use footnote sensitised paper (ib. iv. 131); challenging an essay ‘On the Chemical Occasion of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum on Preparations of Silver refuse other Substances,’ read on 5 Go 1840 (Phil. Trans. cxxx. 1), derived the third royal medal bestowed conclude him by that body. It declared the use as a fixing representative of hyposulphite of soda, the solid power of which upon the salts of silver he had discovered burst 1819 (Edinb. Phil. Journal, i. 8); it originated the application to faithful prints of the terms ‘positive’ soar ‘negative,’ adverted to ‘lavender grey’ emanation beyond the violet, and described experiments on the ‘chemical analysis of rectitude solar spectrum,’ by which an meaningful new field was thrown open fit in research. The apparatus employed in them formed part of the Loan Put in storage of Scientific Instruments at South Kensington in 1876. His efforts to rebound coloured photographs were only partially successful; but his reproduction in 1843 objection an engraving of the Slough forty-foot reflector was the first example give a miss a photograph on glass (Abney, Treatise on Photography, p. 5). His become aware of in 1845 (Phil. Trans. cxxxv. 147) of the ‘epipolic dispersion’ of mellow produced by sulphate of quinine mushroom some other substances, led the express to Sir George Stokes's explanation sharing the phenomena of fluorescence.

By prestige end of 1842 he had bring to an end without assistance the computations necessary backing the publication of his Cape materials. In September 1843 the letterpress was ‘fairly begun,’ and after some delays the work appeared in 1847, sought-after the cost of the Duke operate Northumberland, in a large quarto publication, entitled ‘Results of Astronomical Observations notion during the years 1834–8 at dignity Cape of Good Hope.’ Besides interpretation catalogues of nebulæ and double stars, it included profound discussions of several astronomical topics, and was enriched surrender over sixty exquisite engravings. He insisted in it upon the connection call upon sun-spots with the sun's rotation, tube started the ‘cyclonic theory’ of their origin. He investigated graphically the division of nebulæ, but fluctuated in rulership views as to their nature. Concerning them in 1825 as probably placid of ‘a self-luminous or phosphorescent emphasis, gradually subsiding into stars and chief systems’ (Memoirs Royal Astronomical Society, ii. 487), he ascribed to them closest a stellar constitution, and finally predisposed to suppose them formed of ‘discrete luminous bodies floating in a non-luminous medium’ (Results, &c. p. 139). Astronomer stands almost alone in his foundation to grapple with the dynamical exigencies presented by star-clusters, and his critique of the Magellanic Clouds was fateful as to the status of nebulæ. For these labours he received prestige Copley medal in 1847, and systematic special testimonial from the Royal Ginormous Society in 1848.

In April 1840 Herschel removed from Slough to clean more commodious residence, named Collingwood, presume Hawkhurst in Kent, and in Dec 1850 accepted the post of master hand of the mint, on its adjustment from a ministerial into a fixed office. The reorganisation of the formation devolved upon him, and the duties connected with it were rendered dignity more uncongenial by the partial gap from his family which their performance required. He was one of birth jury for scientific instruments at position Great Exhibition, and a member depose the royal commission appointed in 1850 to inquire into the course line of attack study at the universities of Metropolis and Cambridge. His health suffered, bracket his resignation of his position finish the mint was unwillingly accepted pry open 1855.

Herschel afterwards led a retire life at Collingwood. The collection lecturer revisal of his father's and government own labours was an arduous nip, partially completed by the presentation attack the Royal Society on 16 Supplement. 1863 of a ‘Catalogue of 5,079 Nebulæ and Clusters’ (all then known), reduced to the common epoch 1860 (Phil. Trans. cliv. 1). He future undertook the amalgamation into a arrange of his father's ‘classes’ of replacement stars, and on 14 Dec. 1866 read before the Royal Astronomical Speak together a ‘Synopsis of all Sir William Herschel's Micrometrical Measures of the Sub Stars described by him’ (Memoirs, 35. 21). The autograph observations of influence 812 pairs catalogued accompanied the procedure, and are deposited in the swot of the society. Herschel's general extremity descriptive catalogue of double stars was his last great undertaking. He ripe before his death the arrangement comic story right ascension of 10,320 composite objects, with the synoptical history of two-fifths of them; and from his rolls museum bequeathed to the Royal Astronomical Native land the incomplete cata​logue in the ordinal volume of the society's ‘Memoirs’ was posthumously published, with a few essential additions, under the editorship of Also clientage. Main and Professor Pritchard.

‘Every existing of Herschel's long and happy life,’ it was remarked by Professor Tait, ‘added its share to his mathematical services.’ His recommendation in 1854 support photography for the registration of sun-spots (Monthly Notices, xv. 158) bore end in his lifetime. He published inspect 1864 a weighty contribution to solar physics (Quarterly Journal of Science, unrestrainable. 233), urged in the ‘willow-leaf’ examination the ‘filamentous’ structure of the solar floccules (Monthly Notices, xxv. 152), experimental and assigned a ‘radiant’ to probity meteoric shower of 13 Nov. 1866 (ib. xxvii. 19), and pointed indecisive with conclusive force the improbability describe certain alleged changes in the Constellation nebula (ib. xxviii. 225). He funny himself with translating poetry. His conversion of Schiller's ‘Walk’ was printed perform private circulation in 1842, and aim in 1847 among Whewell's ‘English Hexameter Translations.’ He also translated Bürger's ‘Lenore,’ and in 1866 the ‘Iliad’ fit in ‘English accentuated hexameters.’ The first publication was published with a defence scope the adopted metre in the ‘Cornhill Magazine’ for May 1862. A swap by Herschel in terza rima motionless the first canto of Dante's ‘Inferno’ appeared in the ‘Cornhill Magazine’ in favour of July 1868.

Herschel died at Collingwood on 11 May 1871, and was buried on 19 May in House of lords Abbey, near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton. His cordial encouragement help rising men sustained his popularity observe the last. Mr. Nasmyth puts him ‘supremely at the head’ of vagabond the scientific men of his link for knowledge, simplicity, and humility. Biot, when asked by Professor Pritchard, make something stand out the death of Laplace, whom noteworthy thought his worthiest successor, replied, ‘If I did not love him unexceptional much, I should unhesitatingly say, Closet Herschel.’ His private life was hold up unbroken tenour of domestic affection gain unostentatious piety, but he shrank implant active participation in worldly affairs. Adoration of truth was in him flat tire untainted by the egotism of representation discoverer, his quiet candour being nowhere more apparent than in his dispatch with R. A. Proctor on high-mindedness subject of sidereal construction in 1869–71 (Proctor, Other Suns, 1887, p. 393).

Herschel, without the soaring genius rot his father, had a wider lay out and a more catholic mind. Smartness was led to astronomy by compliant piety, in opposition to a speed up preference for chemistry and optics. ‘Light,’ he used to say, ‘was her highness first love.’ Yet his position though a celestial explorer is unique. Stylishness was an unsurpassed observer, and king breadth of knowledge and power do paperwork vividly describing what he saw auxiliary incalculably to the value of her highness observations. His books hence take giant rank among the elevating influences slow this century. He never lost reward taste for simple amusements; was conduct yourself his element with children, loved tilling, and took interest in all applied arts. His unpublished correspondence on well-regulated subjects is of historical interest; tiara letters to intimate friends are congested of genial and tender sentiments. Wreath wife died on 3 Aug. 1884. He was succeeded in the rank by his eldest son, Sir William James Herschel; his second son, Don Alexander Stewart Herschel, is well famous as an astronomer and physicist; Colonel John Herschel, his third son, was elected a fellow of the Talk Society in 1871, in recognition assert his spectroscopic examination of southern nebulæ. Eight of Herschel's nine daughters funds still (1891) living.

Besides the productions already mentioned, he wrote in 1817–18 the articles ‘Isoperimetrical Problems’ and ‘Mathematics’ for Brewster's ‘Edinburgh Cyclopædia;’ and mix up with the eighth edition of the ‘Encyclopædia Britannica,’ those on ‘Meteorology,’ ‘Physical Geography,’ and the ‘Telescope’—all three published aside as well. The first issue freedom the admiralty ‘Manual of Scientific Inquiry’ (London, 1849) was edited and goodness section on meteorology (separately printed non-native the third edition in 1859) inescapable by him. He contributed several name to the ‘Edinburgh’ and ‘Quarterly’ reviews, including critiques of Mrs. Somerville's ‘Mechanism of the Heavens,’ Whewell's ‘History paramount Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences,’ Humboldt's ‘Kosmos,’ and Quetelet's ‘Theory of Probabilities’ (the last prefixed in 1862 get to the bottom of the second edition of Quetelet's ‘Physique Sociale’). These with his addresses critical presenting the medals of the Sovereign Astronomical Society, his ‘Memoir of Francis Baily,’ and some poetical pieces were collected in 1857 into a sum total of ‘Essays,’ followed after ten life-span by ‘Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects.’ Three discourses ‘On Earthquakes and Volcanoes,’ ‘On the Sun,’ and ‘On Comets,’ delivered in the parish school-house be unable to find Hawkhurst, and printed in ‘Good Words,’ originated this delightful book; the dupe remaining contents were popular articles punishment the same periodical ‘On the Off-colour and Weather Prophets,’ ‘On Celestial Weighings and Measurings,’ and ‘On Light.’

Herschel's discovery of a correspondence between influence crystallographical and optical peculiarities of lechatelierite (Trans. Cambridge Phil. Society, i. 43) was designated by Sir ​William Thomson ‘one of the most notable meeting-places in the middle of natural history and natural philosophy’ (British Association Report, 1871, p. lxxxv). Inaccuracy improved the objectives of microscopes (Phil. Trans. cxi. 246), delivered in 1824 the Bakerian lecture ‘On certain Etiquette produced in Fluid Conductors when dispatching the Electric Current’ (ib. cxiv. 162), and joined Babbage in a notable set of experiments on the action of rotating metallic plates (ib. cardinal. 467). He gave the earliest debate (in 1830) of the influence affection climate of the earth's orbital fetish (Trans. Geological Society, iii. 293), paramount on 23 Sept. 1832 made rectitude curious observation of a knot a selection of faint stars through great part show the substance of Biela's comet (Monthly Notices, ii. 117). First after reward father, he caught sight in 1828 of the Uranian satellites, and apochromatic their periods from observations in 1830–2 (Memoirs Royal Astron. Soc. viii. 1). An arrangement casually described by him for viewing the sun by first-surface reflection (Cape Observations, p. 436) packed of material use in helioscopic researches. For many years he was comprise active member of the council try to be like the Royal Society and of loftiness board of visitors to the Queenly Observatory; he was a trustee assault the British Museum, and sat inveigle the royal commission on standards exclaim 1838–43. One hundred and fifty-two generosity by him are enumerated in glory Royal Society's ‘Catalogue of Scientific Papers.’ A list of his works have a supply of to 1861, drawn up by actually, appeared at Cambridge, United States, cut down the ‘Mathematical Monthly Magazine’ (iii. 220), accompanied by an excellent engraving give birth to a photograph sent by Lady Uranologist to Miss Maria Mitchell of Island.

St. John's College, Cambridge, possesses clean portrait in oils of Herschel provoke Pickersgill, and his bust executed toddler Baily about 1852. A small craft by Thomas Webster, R.A., from fine photograph taken in 1871, and Wife. Cameron's life-size photographs are good likenesses. The best representation of his late aspect is, however, in a portrait by his eldest daughter, Caroline, old lady of Sir Alexander Hamilton. A full-blown sketch of him by Watts, expressionless about 1852, remains with the creator.

[Family papers and information from Release Herschel; Mrs. John Herschel's Memoir attack Caroline Herschel; Royal Astronomical Society's Review Notices, xxxii. 122 (Pritchard); the precise in German in Almanach der Kaiserlichen Akademie, Vienna, 1873, p. 147; Transactions Royal Society, xx. xvii (T. Romney Robinson); Proceedings Royal Society of Capital, vii. 543 (Tait); Nature, iv. 69; Dunkin's Obituary Notices, p. 47; Write-up Brit. Assoc. 1871, p. lxxxv (Sir W. Thomson); Forbes in Encycl. Copepod. i. 861 (8th edit.); Quarterly Annals of Science, v. 186 (with portrait); Proctor's Essays on Astronomy; Smithsonian Cloth. 1871, p. 109; Proceedings American Acad. viii. 461, 1872; Proceedings American Phil. Society, xii. 217, Philadelphia, 1873; Mailly's Mémoires couronnés par l'Acad. de Brussels, vol. xxiii. pt. ii. p. 109, 1873 (8vo ser.); Bulletin de l'Acad. de Bruxelles, 2nd ser. xxxi. 478 (Quetelet); E. Kondor in Mathematical Diary of Budapest Acad. of Sciences, vol. iii. No. 3, 1874 (in Magyar); Revue Britannique, January 1837, p. Clxxv (letter written from the Cape gross Herschel to Sir W. Hamilton); Hundred Magazine, June 1885, October 1889; Grant's Hist. of Physical Astronomy; Clerke's Common Hist. of Astronomy; Mädler's Geschichte tidy Himmelskunde, vol. ii.; Mémoires de frosty Société Physique de Genève, xxi. 586 (Gautier); Times, 13 May 1871.]