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Herschel was born as Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel in Hanover, Germany, one of ten children (of which four died very young). He changed his name after moving to England at age nineteen to pursue a career as a musician. At the time, the crowns of England and Hanover were united under George II, and he had learned English when he had been sent to England a year earlier as a musician in the Hanoverian Guards regiment.
He became a successful music teacher and bandleader, played the organ and the oboe, and composed numerous musical works, most of which are largely forgotten today. He became Director of Public Concerts in BathFor alternate meanings see Bath (disambiguation Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in south-west England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. The city was first recorded as a Roman spa, though verbal tradition su. His sister CarolineCaroline Lucretia Herschel ( March 16 1750 January 9 1848) was a German-born English astronomer. She worked with her brother Sir William Herschel. Her main contribution to astronomy was the discovery of some new comets. In particular, the periodic comet 3 also came to England and lived with him.
His interest in astronomy grew stronger after 1773Events January 12 The first American museum open to the public is opened in ( Charleston, South Carolina). January 17 Captain James Cook becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle April 27 or May 10 The British Parliament passes the, and he built some telescopes and made the acquaintance of Nevil MaskelyneNevil Maskelyne ( October 6, 1732 February 9, 1811) was the fifth British Astronomer Royal. He held the office from 1765 to 1811. The solar eclipse of 1748 made a deep impression upon him; and having graduated as seventh wrangler from Trinity College, Cam. He observed the MoonFor other moons in the solar system see natural satellite. For other uses see Moon (disambiguation). The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It has no formal name other than "The Moon" although it is occasionally called Luna ( Latin for moon to d, measuring the heights of lunar mountains, and also worked on a catalog of double starThis topic is about the astronomical phenomenon. For other uses, see double star (disambiguation). When two stars are so nearly in the same direction as seen from Earth that they appear to be a single star to the naked eye but may be separated by the uses.
The turning point in his life was March 13March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). There are 293 days remaining. Events 483 St. Felix becomes Pope. 874 The bones of Saint Nicephorus are interred in the Church of the Apostles, Constantinople. 1138 Cardin 1781Events January 5 American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold. January 30 Articles of Confederation ratified by 13th state, Maryland. January William Pitt the Younger, later Prime Minister, enters, while residing at 19 New King Street, Bath, when he discovered Uranus. This made him famous and enabled him to turn to astronomy full-time. Naming the new planet Georgium Sidus in honour of King George III also brought him favour (the name didn't stick). That same year, Herschel was awarded the Copley Medal and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1782, he was appointed "The King’s Astronomer" and he and his sister subsequently moved to Datchet (then in Buckinghamshire but now in Berkshire) on August 1 1782. He also continued his work as a telescope maker, selling a number of them to other astronomers.
In 1783 he gave Caroline a telescope and she began to make astronomical discoveries in her own right, particularly comets. Caroline also served as his full-time assistant, taking notes while he observed at the telescope.
In June 1785, due to damp conditions, he and Caroline moved to Clay Hall in Old Windsor, and on April 3 1786, they moved to a new residence on Windsor Road in Slough. William Herschel lived the rest of his life in this residence, which came to be known as Observatory House. It is no longer standing, having been demolished in 1963 to make way for a high-rise office building.
On May 7 1788, he married the widow Mary Pitt (née Baldwin) at St Laurence's Church, Upton, near Slough. His sister Caroline then moved to separate lodgings, but continued to work as his assistant.
On August 28 1789, he erected his renowned 40ft ( focal length), 48 in aperture, telescope, discovering a new moon of Saturn on the very first night's observation, and a second moon within the first month of observation. The 40ft telescope proved very cumbersome, however, and most of his observations were done with a smaller telescope of 20ft focal length.
William and Mary had one child, John, born at Observatory House on March 7 1792. In 1816, William was knighted "Sir William Herschel" by the Prince Regent. He helped to found the Astronomical Society of London in 1820, which in 1831 received a royal charter and became the Royal Astronomical Society.
On August 25 1822, Herschel died at Observatory House and is buried at nearby St Laurence's Church, Upton.
His son John Herschel also became a famous astronomer. One of William's brothers, Alexander, also moved permanently to England, near Caroline and William though not in the same household, but was not a scientist.
His house in Bath, where he made many telescopes and first observed Uranus, is now home to the William Herschel Museum.
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