Sir William Herschel
Who was he?
Wikipedia:
Sir Frederick William Herschel, KH, FRS, German: Friedrich Wilhelm
Herschel (15 November 1738 – 25 August 1822) was a Hanoverian
astronomer, technical expert, and a composer. Early in his life Wilhelm
followed his father into the Military Band of Hannover. Later, Herschel
became most famous for the discovery of the planet Uranus in addition
to several of its major moons such as Titania and Oberon. He also
discovered infrared radiation. Finally, Herschel is lesser known for
the twenty-four symphonies that he composed.
Why was he in Bath?
He moved to England at the age of 19 when the French invaded Hanover in
1757. After working in the north of England for a number of years
he became organist of the Octagon Chapel, Bath in 1766. His house at 19
New King Street, where he made many telescopes
and first observed Uranus, is now home to the Herschel Museum of
Astronomy.
Location of plaque at 19, New King Street:
The text reads
"Here lived William Herschel a.d. 1781"
Location map of 19, New King Street:
(c) 2011
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