HERSCHEL, her'slfel, Caroline Lucretia, sister of Sir William Herschel (q.v.), Anglo German astronomer: b. Hanover, Germany, 16 March 1750; d. there, 9 Tan. 1848. In her 22d year she went to England to reside with her brother, then organist in Bath. When William abandoned his former profession in favor of astronomy she became his helpmate, and when he was appointed private astronomer to George III she discharged efficiently all the duties of an assistant astronomer, for which she wts allowed a small salary. Although these duties were very arduous, she yet found time to conduct a series of observations of her own with a small Newtonian telescope her brother had made for her. She devoted special energy to the dis covery of comets, and was so successful as to be entitled to claim the priority of discovery of at least five. Several remarkable nebula: and 'clusters of stars included in her brother's cata logue were described from her original observa tions. In 1798 her valuable work,
of Stars taken from Mr. Flamstced's Observa tions, with Introductory Remarks by W. Her schel,' was published by the Royal Society. On •her brother's death in 1822 she returned to her native country, where she died after an unusu ally protracted life, distinguished by useful sci entific labors. The Royal Society recognized the value of her labors by bestowing upon her in 1828 their gold medal, and some time afterward by conferring upon her the privileges of hon orary membership. Consult Herschel, M. C., 'Memoir and Carrewondeneetpf Caroline,lier-
schel) (London 18M ; and Clerke, (The
schels and Modern Astronomy' (ib. 1895). ,