John Frederick William Herschel

1792 - 1871

country of citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

languages spoken, written or signed: English

educated at: Eton College, St John's College

occupation: astronomer, photographer, mathematician, chemist, physicist, writer

award received: Fellow of the Royal Society, Copley Medal, Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order, Royal medal, Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, Lalande Prize, Bakerian Lecture, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

position held: Master of the Mint, President of the British Science Association, Rector of Marischal College. Aberdeen

student of: William Herschel

influenced by: William Herschel

Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet (; 7 March 1792 – 11 May 1871) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer who invented the blueprint and did botanical work.Herschel originated the use of the Julian day system in astronomy. He named seven moons of Saturn and four moons of Uranus – the seventh planet, discovered by his father Sir William Herschel. He made many contributions to the science of photography, and investigated colour blindness and the chemical power of ultraviolet rays. His Preliminary Discourse (1831), which advocated an inductive approach to scientific experiment and theory-building, was an important contribution to the philosophy of science. Source: Wikipedia (en)