HERSCHEL, Sir JOHN FREDERICK WILLIAM (1792-1871). An eminent English astronomer, the only son of the astronomer William Herschel. He was born at Slough, near Windsor. 31arch 1792. and was educated at Saint John's Cambridge. His first publication was A Collec tion of Examples of the Application of the culus of I'inite Differences (1820). In 1822 he applied himself especially to astronomy, using his father's methods and instruments in ing the heavens. For a time he worked with Sir —lames South in reexamining the lae and cluster, of stars described in his father's catalogues. The results of the reexamination were given in 1833 to the Royal Society in the form of a catalogue. The catalogue contained observations on 525 and cluster, of stars not noticed by his father, and on a great number of double stars—in all, between 3000 and 4000. his "Treatise on Sound" appeared in the pedia .11etropolitana in 1830, and his "Treatise on the Theory of Light" in the same work in 1831. in which year also appeared in Lardner's Cyclopedia his "Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy." In 1836 appeared his "Treatise on Astronomy," in Lardner's pedia. At this time Herschel was at the Cape of Good Hope. where he arrived in January.
1834, with the intention of completing the survey of the sidereal heavens by examining the Southern Hemisphere as he had done the Northern. Here he established his observatory at a place called Feldhausen. six miles from Table Bay. On Starch 5. 1834. lie commenced his observations, which were embodied in his Results of nomical Observations Made During 1834-38 at the Cape of Good Hope; Being a Completion of a Telescopic Surrey of the It'ho/e Surface of the Visible Hearens, Commenced in 1825 (1847).
On his return to England, in 1838. honors were showered on him. lie got the Royal Society's gold medal in 1826; he now was made a D.C.L. of Oxford, was created a baronet, succeeded the Duke of Sussex as president of the Royal So ciety. and in 1848 he became president of the Royal Astronomical Society. In 1849 he pub lished his Outlines of Astronomy. In 1850 lie was appointed master of the mint. This office. on account of ill health. he resigned in 1855. Consult Clerke, lice Hcrschels and Modern As tronomy (London. 1895). For a list of his con tributions, consult the Royal Society's great cata logue.