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John Herschel

English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor and photographer (1792-1871) · United Kingdom · Academics · Died at 79

John Herschel is read about 300 times a day, in 77 languages.

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He named eleven moons across Saturn and Uranus, invented the blueprint, and set astronomy's calendar to Julian days - a polymath's sweep through mathematics, chemistry, and early photography that left practical marks still in use.

ScientistsScientistAstronomyPhotographyMathematicsChemistryPhysicsLiterature

A life in dates

1871Died11 May 18711855“What God sends is welcome.”In their wordsNovember 1855Diary entry (November 1855), as quoted in The Shadow of the Telescope: A Biography of John Herschel by Günther Buttmann

1831“We must never forget that it is principles, not phenomena, - laws not insulated independent facts, - which are the objects of inquiry to the natural philosopher.”In their wordsA Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831)

“To ascend to the origin of things and speculate on the creation, is not the business of the natural philosopher.”In their wordsAccustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and

“Science is the knowledge of many, orderly and methodically digested and arranged, so as to become attainable by one.”In their wordsAccustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and

“The question "cui bono" to what practical end and advantage do your researches tend?”In their wordsAccustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and

1828“Of the splendid constellation of great names...”In their wordsOn the Theory of Light (1828) p.494

1792Born7 March 1792

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

John Herschel by Jula Margaret Cameron, Abril 1867John Herschel by Jula Margaret Cameron, Abril 1867'J F W Herschel' RMG PU3685'J F W Herschel' RMG PU3685'J.F.Wm. Herschel' RMG PU3684'J.F.Wm. Herschel' RMG PU3684Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Wood engraving, 1871. Wellcome V0002720Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Wood engraving, 1871. Wellcome V0002720Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Wood engraving, 1871. Wellcome V0002721Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Wood engraving, 1871. Wellcome V0002721Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Stipple engraving by D. Wellcome V0002718Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Stipple engraving by D. Wellcome V0002718Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Stipple engraving. Wellcome V0002723Sir John Frederick William Herschel. Stipple engraving. Wellcome V0002723John Herschel00John Herschel00

In their own words 8

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John Herschel
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8 statements, newest first

  1. What God sends is welcome.

    Nov 1855, Diary entry (November 1855), as quoted in The Shadow of the Telescope: A Biography of John Herschel by Günther Buttmann, Own words

  2. We must never forget that it is principles, not phenomena, - laws not insulated independent facts, - which are the objects of inquiry to the natural philosopher.

    1831, A Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831), Own words

  3. To ascend to the origin of things and speculate on the creation, is not the business of the natural philosopher.

    1831, Accustomed to trace the operation of general causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in circumstances where the uninformed and, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society
Copley Medal
Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
Royal Medal
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lalande Prize
Royal Society Bakerian Medal
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

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About this person

Born 7 March 1792, John Frederick William Herschel grew up in the shadow of his father William, who had discovered Uranus. He ranged across disciplines: mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, invention. He gave names to seven moons of Saturn and four around his father's planet, originated the Julian day system that astronomers still keep time by, and pioneered experimental photography - including the blueprint process. His investigations ran to colour blindness and ultraviolet's chemical effects. In 1831 his Preliminary Discourse laid out an inductive method for science, shaping how theory should rise from experiment. He died 11 May 1871, a baronet who had touched more fields than most specialists ever see.

Country
United Kingdom
Category
Academics
Type
Academic
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1792 to 1871 · aged 79

Academics from the United Kingdom 6

Alfred North Whitehead65.3John Wesley64.4Helen Doron65.8George Boole64.1William of Ockham65.8G.H. Hardy64.0

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