Frederick William Herschel (; Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel; 15 November 1738 – 25 August 1822) was a German-born British astronomer and composer of music.
In 1755 the Hanoverian Guards regiment, in whose band Wilhelm and his brother Jakob were engaged as oboists, was ordered to England.
Born in the Electorate of Hanover, William Herschel followed his father into the military band of Hanover, before emigrating to Great Britain in 1757 at the age of nineteen. Herschel constructed his first large telescope in 1774, after which he spent nine years carrying out sky surveys to investigate double stars.
After they were defeated at the Battle of Hastenbeck, Herschel's father Isaak sent his two sons to seek refuge in England in late 1757.
Born in the Electorate of Hanover, William Herschel followed his father into the military band of Hanover, before emigrating to Great Britain in 1757 at the age of nineteen. Herschel constructed his first large telescope in 1774, after which he spent nine years carrying out sky surveys to investigate double stars.
On 13 March 1781 while making observations he made note of a new object in the constellation of Gemini.
Although his older brother Jakob had received his dismissal from the Hanoverian Guards, Wilhelm was accused of desertion (for which he was pardoned by George III in 1782). Wilhelm, nineteen years old at this time, was a quick student of the English language.
Herschel published catalogues of nebulae in 1802 (2,500 objects) and in 1820 (5,000 objects).
Herschel was made a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1816.
Herschel published catalogues of nebulae in 1802 (2,500 objects) and in 1820 (5,000 objects).
He was the first President of the Royal Astronomical Society when it was founded in 1820.
Frederick William Herschel (; Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel; 15 November 1738 – 25 August 1822) was a German-born British astronomer and composer of music.
He died in August 1822, and his work was continued by his only son, John Herschel. ==Early life and musical activities== Herschel was born in the Electorate of Hanover in Germany, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, one of ten children of Issak Herschel and his wife Anna Ilse Moritzen, of German Lutheran ancestry. His forefathers came from Pirna, in Saxony.
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