IIORROCKS, JET/Emit/al, an astronomer of remarkable genius, generally known as the first observer of the transit of Venus, an account of which phenomenon he has given in Latin treatise entitled Venus in &le visa. He was born at Toxteth, near Liverpool, date uncertain, supposed to be 1618; he entered Emanuel college, Cambridge, May 18, 161'32; was appointed in 1639 to the curacy 'of 'node, Lancashire, km which village he made his famous observation (Nov. 24, 1639, '0. s.)„whilea 'mere youth. Ilorrocks died suddenly on Jan. 3, 1041, the day before an intended journey, having promised to visit his chief friend, William Crabtree. Dr. 'Wallis, his contemporary. informs us that Horrocks at the time of his death " had not completed his 23d year." Hearne, in his memoranda, tells its how Horrocks was called away, during his observation of the transit, "to his devotions and duty at church ;" to which interruption the astronomer thus alludes in his treatise: "Ad majora avoratus, quce ob hale, parerga negligi non, decuit." Newton, in
the Principia, bears honorable testimony to the value of Horrocks's astronomical work, especially commending his lunar theory as the most ingenious yet brought forward; adding, "and if I mistake not, the most accurate of all." Horrocks is frequently men tioned by the scientific men of the 17th c.; the observation of the transit by no means being regarded as the most important of his astronomical achievements. Hevelius printed the Venus in Sale 'visa, which first appeared in Germany (1662). In 1672 Hor rocks's fragmentary works were published under the auspices of the royal society, being edited by Dr. Wallis, with the title Jeremice Horroceii Opera Postkuma, etc. The name of Jeremiah Horrocks, long forgotton, except by astronomers, is now, "after the lapse of more than two centuries," eugraven ou marble in 'Westminster Abbey.