Correspondence map
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George Peacock
John Frederick William Herschel
John Frederick William Herschel is awarded Master of Arts (MA), at the University of Cambridge
30 January 1816
John Frederick William Herschel starts astronomical work alongside his father Sir William Herschel FRS
1816
Autograph letter signed by sender. News of his travels in Italy. Has lost their trunks.
6 August 1816 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/245
Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets not having notified John Frederick William Herschel of the arrival of the manuscripts. Comments on them and the other papers. An algebra is much wanted. Has been much occupied with college and public business.
14 November 1816 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/246
Autograph letter signed by sender. Book will be published on 13 Dec. Also printing John Frederick William Herschel's notes. Will extend to 710 pages. Comments on the errors and gives ideas for future publications. Reform is afoot in the University.
3 December 1816 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/247
1817
Autograph letter signed by sender. Outlines the events at Cambridge and the defeat of the reform George Peacock hoped to introduce in the mathematical examinations.
4 March 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/248
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the two letters and the interesting matter they contain. Hopes John Frederick William Herschel will come when [William?] Clark[e]'s election takes place. Has put John Frederick William Herschel's name on the Syndics. Will not cease to exert himself in the cause of [mathematical] reform. Vice-Chancellor is against change.
17 March 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/249
Autograph letter signed by sender. Rejoices at the prospect of seeing John Frederick William Herschel on 10 June, the day of the election. Many supporters of William Clark may be absent. Has been unwell himself lately. Hears nothing about John Frederick William Herschel's Algebra. [Richard?] Harraden is difficult to move. Tell Charles Babbage an anonymous donor has given £20,000 to Peterhouse.
30 May 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/250
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has only just returned to the University. Not known at what time the election will take place. Has made inquiries about the bricks; they were given to the College by Sir J. Malcolm. Will get them copied. Just about to write to Charles Babbage who is coming down to take his degree.
June 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/251
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses certificate that Charles Babbage sent him, with the amended signatures. Sorry it has given John Frederick William Herschel so much trouble. All rejoice to see John Frederick William Herschel on 10 June.
2 June 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/252
Autograph letter signed by sender. Regrets delay in answering letter, but is setting to work and hopes to send part of his manuscript on curves in a few days. Has spoken to Smith (the printer). [Richard?] Harraden is immovable.
7 August 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/253
Autograph letter signed by sender. Received the parcel containing George Peacock's manuscript just as he was intending to go into the country. Delayed his departure to prepare it for the printer, but the latter is waiting for types. Comments on John Frederick William Herschel's suggestions. Observatory was discussed at the meeting of Caput but was put off till 3 Dec. further discussion. James Wood is exerting his influence against it.
15 November 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/254
Autograph letter signed by sender. Syndicate appointed to consider the erection of an observatory at Cambridge. Gives details of passage through the Senate. Was obliged for J. B. Biot's letter of introduction; found his talents and candor delightful. Had estimate from Edward Troughton for instruments for the Observatory. Printing of the examples began yesterday.
3 December 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/255
Autograph letter signed by sender. Will be a meeting of the Observatory Syndicate on Tuesday 16 Dec.; hopes that John Frederick William Herschel can come as his name has great weight.
10 December 1817 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/256
1818
Mary Shelley publishes Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
1818
Autograph letter signed by sender. Went to London, and then returned for meeting of the Syndicate. Gives details of resolutions passed and also the one to which George Peacock objects, viz body responsible for appointing observer. There is to be another meeting on Friday.
18 February 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/257
Autograph letter signed by sender. Meeting was not called by the Vice-Chancellor, so powers of the Syndicate are now at an end. Gives news of events at the University. Has had letter from J. B. Biot, who is to give a series of lectures on Newton's Principia.
7 March 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/258
Autograph letter signed by sender. Observer for the forthcoming observatory is to be the Plumian Professor. Gives news of other professorships and gives opinion of John Frederick William Herschel's chances should he apply for any.
1 April 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/259
Autograph letter signed by sender. Requesting support for Adam Sedgwick in the forthcoming election for the Woodwardian Lectureship. Has been unwell himself.
4 May 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/260
Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments on the candidates and the process for filling the Woodwardian Lectureship at Cambridge; also some other Cambridge University matters.
14 May 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/261
Autograph letter signed by sender. Making arrangements for a visit to John Frederick William Herschel at Slough.
3 June 1818 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/262
1819
John Frederick William Herschel serves on the Board of Longitude
1819
Autograph letter signed by sender. Asks John Frederick William Herschel to write a letter of recommendation for a mutual friend, and adds some Cambridge news.
3 January 1819 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/263
Autograph letter signed by sender. About Charles Babbage's hopes for a position, and joint publication ventures.
8 August 1819 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/264
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the joint publication of John Frederick William Herschel, George Peacock, and Charles Babbage, and Babbage not doing his part.
5 December 1819 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/265
Autograph letter signed by sender. Arrangements about a visit to Slough.
29 December 1819 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/266
1820
John Frederick William Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
1820: John Frederick William Herschel publishes “On the action of crystallized bodies on homogeneous light, and on the causes of the deviation from Newton's scale in the tints which many of them develope on exposure to a polarised ray” .
John Frederick William Herschel serves his first term as Foreign Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society
1820
Autograph letter signed by sender. Business matters relating to the Royal Society [of London] and the Astronomical Society.
17 February 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/267
Autograph letter signed by sender. Urges John Frederick William Herschel to become an active candidate for vacant Lucasian professorship.
3 April 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/268
Autograph letter signed by sender. Cambridge University has agreed to build a new observatory [Madingley Road] and now the matter of collecting subscriptions for it must begin.
6 May 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/269
Autograph letter signed by sender. Subscriptions to the fund to build the observatory [see George Peacock's 1820-5-6] are coming in only slowly.
17 May 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/270
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the expenses and arrangements regarding the publication of John Frederick William Herschel's A Collection of Examples of the Application of the Calculus of Finite Differences.
16 November 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/271
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the expenses of their joint publication [see George Peacock's 1820-11-16], rumors of a vacancy in the Lucasian professorship, and about the new observatory at Cambridge.
2 December 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/272
Autograph letter signed by sender. Urging John Frederick William Herschel to come to Cambridge to examine the plans for the new observatory.
1 December 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/273
Autograph letter signed by sender. About observatory plans and possible vacancies at Cambridge.
20 December 1820 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/274
1821
John Frederick William Herschel and Charles Babbage travel through France to Italy and Switzerland.
1821
John Frederick William Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
1821:
John Frederick William Herschel publishes “On the aberrations of compound lenses and object-glasses" in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
John Frederick William Herschel receives the Copley Medal of the Royal Society for his papers printed in the Philosophical Transactions
1821
Autograph letter signed by sender. Cambridge news, George Peacock's own activities, and comments on the progress of the observatory plans.
14 May 1821 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/275
Autograph letter signed by sender. About plans for the Cambridge observatory.
7 June 1821 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/276
Autograph letter signed by sender. News from Cambridge, including information about the new observatory.
12 November 1821 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/277
Autograph letter signed by sender. News of Cambridge University.
29 November 1821 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/278
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the university politics of filling vacant posts.
2 December 1821 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/280
1822
Death of Sir William Herschel FRS
25 August 1822
Autograph letter signed by sender. Of Cambridge University news, and observatory plans.
31 January 1822 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/281
Autograph letter signed by sender. Observatory plans are progressing well; George Peacock also sends some Cambridge University news.
17 March 1822 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/282
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the election to fill vacancies at Cambridge University.
16 November 1822 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/283
Autograph letter signed by sender. About intrigue and unethical dealings surrounding the election to fill vacancies at Cambridge University.
31 December 1822 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/284
Copy of a letter. Grateful for George Peacock's sympathy. John Frederick William Herschel's mother 'dreadfully distressed.'
11 September 1822 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/19/32
1823
John Frederick William Herschel receives the Bakerian Medal of the Royal Society.
1823:
John Frederick William Herschel gives the Bakerian lecture “On certain Motions produced in Fluid Conductors when transmitting the Electric Current”.
Autograph letter signed by sender. About matters relating to the building of the observatory.
19 March 1823 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/285
1824
John Frederick William Herschel moves to 56 Devonshire St., Portland Place, London
1824
John Frederick William Herschel serves as Secretary of the Royal Society
30 November 1824
Autograph letter signed by sender. On the matter of helping a friend who is being maligned [Mrs. Bowdich], and about John Frederick William Herschel's projected Continental tour.
23 March 1824 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/286
1825
John Frederick William Herschel invents the actinometer to measure the heating power of the Sun’s rays
1825
1826
John Frederick William Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions
1826:
John Frederick William Herschel publishes “On the parallax of the fixed stars”.
1827
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce presents his photographs in England for the first time
1827
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is afraid John Frederick William Herschel will decline the invitation to be a candidate for the Lucasian professorship, so it is assumed Charles Babbage will be elected.
30 December 1827 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/287
1828
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the election of Charles Babbage to the Lucasian professorship.
6 March 1828 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/288
1829
John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart are married in London
3 March 1829
1830
John Frederick William Herschel is elected Foreign correspondent of the Académie des sciences
1830
Birth of Caroline Emilia Mary Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
31 March 1830
John Frederick William Herschel is nominated for the presidency of the Royal Society, loses by 8 votes to the Duke of Sussex
30 November 1830
1831
Mary Somerville publishes Mechanism of the Heavens
1831
Sir John Herschel is created Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order
1831
Sir John Herschel publishes Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy as part of Dionysius Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia.
1831
Birth of Isabella Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
5 June 1831
1833
Sir John Herschel receives the Royal Medal from the Royal Society
1833:
The Medal is awarded "For his paper on nebulae and clusters of stars, published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1833."
Sir John Herschel publishes A treatise on astronomy as part of Dionysius Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia.
1833
Birth of William James Herschel, son of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1833
Sir John Herschel departs for South Africa with his wife and their three children
13 November 1833
1834
Birth of Margaret Louisa Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1834
1835
Sir John Herschel serves as President of the Literary and Philosophical Society of the Cape of Good Hope
1835
Halley’s comet becomes visible
28 November 1835
1836
Birth of Alexander Stewart Herschel, son of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
5 February 1836
1837
Victoria becomes Queen of the United Kingdom
20 June 1837
Birth of John Herschel, son of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
29 October 1837
1838
Sir John Herschel returns from South Africa
1838: A banquet in presence of Queen Victoria is given to celebrate his return to Britain and made a Baronet.
Autograph letter signed by sender. A note to George Peacock accompanying a letter to Augustus Frederick (Duke of Sussex) in which John Frederick William Herschel indicates a change of heart and an acceptance of the baronetcy [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1838-6-19].
21 June 1838 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/13/290
Autograph letter signed by sender. George Peacock informs John Frederick William Herschel how gratified Augustus Frederick (Duke of Sussex) was by John Frederick William Herschel's letter [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1838-6-19].
20 June 1838 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/291
Copy of a letter. John Frederick William Herschel's reasons for wishing to decline the baronetcy remain, but has decided to accept it because of Augustus Frederick's (Duke of Sussex) 'really noble conduct as respects me.'
19 June 1838 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/21/251
1839
Sir John Herschel serves his first term as President of the Royal Astronomical Society
1839: to 1841
Birth of Maria Sophia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1839
William Henry Fox Talbot presents his paper-based photographic process at the Royal Society
1839
1840
Sir John Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions
1840: Sir John Herschel publishes “On the chemical action of the rays of the solar spectrum on preparations of silver and other substances, both metallic and non-metallic; and on some photographic processes”
1841
Sir Robert Peel becomes Prime Minister
1841
Birth of Amelia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1841
Autograph letter signed by sender. About some aspects of the magnetic survey, and who shall pay for it.
5 January 1841 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/293
1842
Birth of Julia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1842
Sir John Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions
1842: Sir John Herschel publishes “On the action of the rays of the solar spectrum on vegetable colours, and on some new photographic processes”
Autograph letter signed by sender. About arrangements to visit John Frederick William Herschel at Collingwood.
25 March 1842 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/294
1844
Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1844
Autograph letter signed by sender. Advises that John Frederick William Herschel has been elected President of the B.A.A.S. for its meeting at Cambridge in 1845; also some comments on the magnetic survey.
30 September 1844 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/295
1845
Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association
1845
Autograph letter signed by sender. Several items of Royal Society [of London] business.
9 May 1845 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/296
Autograph letter signed by sender. Provides detailed information about John Frederick William Herschel's responsibilities as President of the B.A.A.S.
10 May 1845 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/297
Autograph letter signed by sender. Further arrangements about the B.A.A.S. meeting [see George Peacock's 1845-5-10].
23 May 1845 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/298
Autograph letter signed by sender. Still more about B.A.A.S. meeting arrangements, especially about the magnetic survey {see George Peacock's 1845-5-23].
13 June 1845 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/299
Autograph letter signed by sender. Brief note alerting John Frederick William Herschel to the presence of a foreign visitor.
18 June 1845 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/300
1846
Birth of Francisca Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1846
Sir John Herschel serves his second term as Foreign Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society
1846: To 1847
Autograph letter signed by sender. George Peacock accepts a position which John Frederick William Herschel offers him.
25 July 1846 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/301
1847
Sir John Herschel serves his second term as President of the Royal Astronomical Society
1847: Until 1849
Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal
1847: Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal of the Royal Society "For his work entitled Results of Astronomical Observations made during the years 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837 and 1838, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825"
Sir John Herschel publishes a paper
1847: Sir John Herschel publishes Results of astronomical observations made during the years 1834, 5, 6, 7, 8, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825.
Autograph letter signed by sender. A resolution passed by members of the B.A.A.S. meeting at Oxford urges the publication of William Herschel's papers in one volume.
28 June 1847 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/302
Copy of a letter. Replying to George Peacock's 1847-6-28, is worried about the amount of time that will be required of John Frederick William Herschel in preparing a suitable biography; does not want it to interfere with other work on hand.
30 June 1847 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/13/303
Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Replying to George Peacock's 1847-6-28, is worried about the amount of time that will be required of John Frederick William Herschel in preparing a suitable biography; does not want it to interfere with other work on hand.
30 June 1847 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/322
1848
The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood is formed, by John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and others
1848
Napoleon III is elected first President of France
20 December 1848
1849
Sir John Herschel publishes Outlines of Astronomy.
1849
1850
Sir John Herschel is appointed Master of the Mint
1850
1851
Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition
1851
1852
Autograph letter signed by sender. Will be pleased to officiate at wedding of John Frederick William Herschel's daughter Caroline [see John Frederick William Herschel's 1852-10-30].
4 December 1852 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/304
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has arrived in London, ready for the wedding on following day [see George Peacock's 1852-12-4].
8 December 1852 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/305
Copy of a letter. Asks George Peacock to participate in the marriage ceremony of John Frederick William Herschel's daughter Caroline.
30 October 1852 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/125
1854
Draft letter. Writes to ask George Peacock to help publicize the need for candidates for professorships at the University of Melbourne.
May 1854 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/13/306a
1855
Birth of Constance Anne Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1855
Sir John Herschel is elected Foreign Associate of the Institut de France
1855
Sir John Herschel resigns from his position as Master of the Mint
1855
Draft letter. Comments on the action of the Council of the Senate of Cambridge University.
17 April 1855 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/13/306
Copy of draft letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Comments on the action of the Council of the Senate of Cambridge University.
17 April 1855 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/23/155
1857
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the state of George Peacock's health, and plans for a vacation
24 January 1857 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/307
Autograph letter signed by sender. Is too ill to visit John Frederick William Herschel as he had intended.
16 April 1857 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/308
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks John Frederick William Herschel for a copy of his Essays Q.E.R., and adds some family news.
26 May 1857 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/309
Autograph letter signed by sender. Family news and comments on some of John Frederick William Herschel's writings.
7 December 1857 Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/310
Autographed letter . Note to say the matter of Mr. Lax's examination is not yet organized.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/311
Autograph letter signed by sender. Questions of publishing, including John Frederick William Herschel's considering the publication of William Herschel's writings.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/312
Autograph letter signed by sender. About the possibility of attending a meeting.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/313
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encouragement to John Frederick William Herschel for republication of some earlier works, together with news of George Peacock's health.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/314
Autograph letter signed by sender. Arrangements about George Peacock visiting John Frederick William Herschel.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/315
Autograph letter signed by sender. George Peacock's poor health prevents him from visiting John Frederick William Herschel as had intended.
Sender: George Peacock , George Peacock Reference number: HS/13/316