Frederick William Herschel, an English astronomer and composer of German origin.
Biographical Overview
Born in Germany, 1738-1822 in the Electorate of Hanover. Discovered Uranus, Infrared Radiation, First President of the Royal Astronomical Society, coined the term “Asteroids.” Co-Founder and President of Royal Astronomical Society. Herschel followed his father into the Military Band of Hanover, before migrating to Great Britain in 1757 at the age of nineteen.
Awards
Copley Medal, 1821 Royal Metal, 1836 & 1840
Worldview
Using a biblical worldview perspective, Herschel successfully applied the scientific method to investigate the laws of nature, His worldview is notable from what he said –
“The undevout astronomer must be mad.”
“The difference was occasioned by an exclamation of the First Consul’s, who asked in a tone of exclamation or admiration (when we were speaking of the extent of the sidereal heavens) ‘and who is the author of all this.’ M. de La Place wished to shew that a chain of natural causes would account for the construction and preservation of the wonderful system; this the First Consul rather opposed. Much may be said on the subject; by joining the arguments of both we shall be led to ‘Nature and Nature’s God.’
“Time! Time! Time! — we must not impugn the Scripture Chronology, but we must interpret it in accordance with whatever shall appear on fair inquiry to be the truth for there cannot be two truths.”
William Herschel
