UNCOMMON REGENCY LADIES

By Kristine Hughes

Part 1

CAROLINE HERSCHEL: Lady Astronomer

Caroline's brother, Sir William Herschel, who discovered the planet Uranus, has been remembered for his astronomical contributions, but Caroline herself made major discoveries in the same field. Caroline was born in Hanover in 1750. In 1766, her elder brother William moved to Bath to become organist at the Octagon Chapel, he also played in city concerts and taught music. In 1770, their bother Alexander joined William in Bath and two years later they brought Caroline to England to live with them, no doubt as unpaid housekeeper. She had a fine voice and also sometimes accompanied William during his concerts. In 1773, William and Alexander began building a reflecting telescope, which was finished in 1774.

In 1777, the Herschel's moved to No. 19 King Street, where Caroline began helping William with notes on his astronomical observations, her own interest in the subject growing stronger. On the night of 13 March, 1781, William saw in the constellation of Gemini an object he mistook for a comet, but which was actually the new planet he'd later be credited with discovering. His original name for it was Georgium Sidus, in honour of George III, though Uranus was later chosen instead. In 1782, William was appointed Court Astronomer to George III and given an annual salary of two hundred pounds. Caroline by this time was making her own skyward observations. She and William moved to Datchet, near Windsor Castle, and she continued helping her brother in his work and in constructing a bigger telescope. She was rewarded for her efforts in 1787, when George III granted her an annual salary of fifty pounds.

Caroline's scientific work paid off when in 1783 she discovered three nebulae, which are areas of dust and gas in space. More astonishing she discovered eight comets between 1786 and 1797. When William married in 1788, Caroline moved into lodgings of her own, returning to Hanover in 1822 after William's death. Whilst she never married, she published Catalogues of her brothers work which received awards from the Royal Astronomical Society, of which she was made honorary member in 1835. Before her death in 1848, the King of Prussia awarded her the Gold Medal for Science. More of Caroline's story can be learned by visiting or contacting the William Herschel Museum in Bath, located in the Herschel's former residence at No. 19 New King Street, Bath, Avon BA1 2BL.

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