William Herschel
William Herschel
1785 portrait by Lemuel Francis Abbott
Science
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a German-born British astronomer and composer. Discoverer of Uranus. This was the first planet to be discovered since antiquity, and Herschel became famous overnight.
Born
Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel 15 November 1738 Hanover, Electorate of Hanover, Holy Roman Empire
Died
25 August 1822 (aged 83) Slough, England
Nationality
Hanoverian ; since 1793 British
Known for
Discovery of Uranus Discovery of infrared radiation Deep space surveys First President of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fields
Astronomy and music
Awards
Copley Medal (1781)
Spouse(s)
Mary Baldwin Herschel
adultbasic
Britain
Children
John Herschel (son)
era
1600-1800
Influences
Thomas Young
Resting place
St Laurence's Church, Slough