Subfonds GB 0064 HRS/101-107 - Herschel, Sir John Frederick William, astronomer (1792-1871)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0064 HRS/101-107

Title

Herschel, Sir John Frederick William, astronomer (1792-1871)

Date(s)

  • 1832-1886 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Sir John was the son of Sir William Herschel. He was Senior Wrangler at Cambridge and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1813 for his contributions to chemistry and mathematics. Through assisting his father he came to adopt astronomy as his career and went to live at the Cape of Good Hope from 1833 to 1838, making a star survey of the southern sky. The results of this work were published in 1847. On his return to England, Herschel became an active member of several scientific societies. He was employed as Master of the Mint from 1850 to 1855 and wrote many articles for the Encyclopaedia Britannica and other general works of reference. There is a translation of Gunther Buthman's 'The shadow of the telescope. A biography of John Herschel' by B E Pagel (New York, 1970).

Archival history

GB 0064 HRS/101-107 1832-1886 Subfonds 1 box Herschel , Sir , John Frederick William , 1792-1871 , 1st Baronet , astronomer

Sir John was the son of Sir William Herschel. He was Senior Wrangler at Cambridge and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1813 for his contributions to chemistry and mathematics. Through assisting his father he came to adopt astronomy as his career and went to live at the Cape of Good Hope from 1833 to 1838, making a star survey of the southern sky. The results of this work were published in 1847. On his return to England, Herschel became an active member of several scientific societies. He was employed as Master of the Mint from 1850 to 1855 and wrote many articles for the Encyclopaedia Britannica and other general works of reference. There is a translation of Gunther Buthman's 'The shadow of the telescope. A biography of John Herschel' by B E Pagel (New York, 1970).

The papers, for the most part, were presented in 1958 by Mrs Shorland, great-great-niece of Sir John. Maggs Brothers also presented some notes and correspondence in 1958 concerning the family's Molyneux chronometer together with a description of Sir John's barometer.

Papers of Sir John Frederick William Herschel consisting of notes, news cuttings and Lady Herschel's housekeeping accounts for 1832 to 1838 and for 1852 to 1886; papers concerning the family's Molyneux chronometer together with a description of Sir John's barometer, 1832 to 1833.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jul 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

2010-08-26 Astronomy Herschel , Sir , John Frederick William , 1792-1871 , 1st Baronet , astronomer

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers, for the most part, were presented in 1958 by Mrs Shorland, great-great-niece of Sir John. Maggs Brothers also presented some notes and correspondence in 1958 concerning the family's Molyneux chronometer together with a description of Sir John's barometer.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Sir John Frederick William Herschel consisting of notes, news cuttings and Lady Herschel's housekeeping accounts for 1832 to 1838 and for 1852 to 1886; papers concerning the family's Molyneux chronometer together with a description of Sir John's barometer, 1832 to 1833.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction

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Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

National Maritime Museum

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area