John Herschel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Herschel
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Drawing of John Herschel, published in 1846
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| Born | 7 March 1792 Slough, Buckinghamshire, England
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| Died | 11 May 1871 (aged 79) Collingwood, near Hawkhurst, Kent, England
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| Resting place | Westminster Abbey |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
| Known for | The invention of photography |
| Awards | Smith's Prize (1813) Copley Medal (1821) Lalande Medal (1825) Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1826), (1836) Royal Medal (1836, 1840) Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order |
| Scientific career | |
| Influences | William Herschel (father) |
Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet(7 March 1792 – 11 May 1871) was an English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, experimental photographer who invented the blueprint, and did botanical work.
Herschel originated the use of the Julian day system in astronomy. He named seven moons of Saturn and four moons of Uranus. He made many contributions to the science of photography, and investigated colour blindness and the chemical power of ultraviolet rays; his Preliminary Discourse (1831), which advocated an inductive approach to scientific experiment and theory building, was an important contribution to the philosophy of science.
He married Margaret Brodie Stewart (1810–1884) on 3 March 1829 at Edinburgh and fatherd 12 children.
Herschel died on 11 May 1871 at age 79 at Collingwood, his home near Hawkhurst in Kent. On his death, he was given a national funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey. His obituary by Henry W Field of London was read to the American Philosophical Society on 1 December 1871.
Images for kids
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Calotype (of model) of lunar crater Copernicus, 1842
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Disa cornuta (L.) Sw. by Margaret & John Herschel
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Portrait of Sir John Herschel by his daughter Margaret Louisa Herschel
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Tombs of John Herschel and Charles Darwin. Westminster Abbey
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Description of a machine for resolving by inspection certain important forms, 1832
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Margaret Brodie Stewart by Alfred Edward Chalon 1829
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John Frederick William Herschel by Alfred Edward Chalon 1829
