Identity area
Reference code
Herschel/Box 1/Letter 11
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 2 September 1816 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
3p. paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Astronomer; son of Sir William Herschel; senior wrangler and first Smith's prizeman, 1813; subsequently fellow of St John's College, Cambridge; MA 1816; helped to found Analytical Society, Cambridge, 1813; secretary to Royal Society 1824-7; president of Astronomical Society, 1827-32; created baronet, 1838; president of British Association, 1845; master of the Mint, 1850-5. Major contribution to astronomy through the discovery and cataloguing of many double stars, work on 'light' and early work on photographical process. Buried in Westminster Abbey.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Tells of the weakened condition of his father. Asks for news of Jones and tells of sending a paper of Brownhead's to J. Banks at the Royal Society. Recounts recent visit to Torquay with Babbage and how that reinvigorated his analytical faculties. Gives news of Peacock and Babbage. States that he will send the appendix to Lacroix