Identity area
Reference code
Herschel/Box 1/Letter 7
Unique identifier
GB 275 Herschel/Box 1/Letter 7
Title
Autograph letter, signed, from Herschel to Rev. John William Whittaker, undated but postmarked
Date(s)
- 16 August 1813 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1p. paper
Context area
Name of creator
(1792-1871)
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
Informs Whittaker that books Herschel has asked for have not arrived