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Correspondence Explorer

Choose two people to view all letters between them.

Showing 359 letters from 1800–1847

200 letters from John Frederick William Herschel; 159 letters from Francis Baily

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Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received 50 copies of the enclosed work [?]. Stresses its value.

19th century Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/276

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will be happy to accommodate him.

19th century Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/278

Autograph letter signed by sender. Meeting with J. C. Spencer (Viscount Althorp) next Wednesday at Downing St.

19th century Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/279

Autographed letter . Query regarding positions of stars in the various star catalogues.

19th century Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/284
1812

Charles Babbage, John Frederick William Herschel and George Peacock found the Analytical Society

3 March 1812

John Frederick William Herschel presents his first scientific paper

12 November 1812:

John Frederick William Herschel communicates a paper on Cote’s theorem to the Royal Society

1813

John Frederick William Herschel graduates Senior Wrangler at St John’s College, Cambridge

1813

John Frederick William Herschel is elected Fellow of the Royal Society

27 May 1813

1815

John Frederick William Herschel begins as sub-lector at St. John's College, Cambridge

1 May 1815

1816

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

1818

Mary Shelley publishes Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus

1818

1819

John Frederick William Herschel serves on the Board of Longitude

1819

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. Regarding the printing and distribution of John Frederick William Herschel's Address.

22 January 1820 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/34

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is sending copies of the Address and circular, and two copies of his own pamphlets.

24 January 1820 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/35
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

1822

Death of Sir William Herschel FRS

25 August 1822

Autograph letter signed by sender. Reasons why John Frederick William Herschel was unable to see the Atlas when he called.

9 February 1822 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/47

Autograph letter signed by sender. Wishes to resign from the secretaryship of the Astronomical Society.

8 March 1822 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/50

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the method of dispatch of papers for foreign members.

26 March 1822 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/51
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”.

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. Is sending a letter from Dr. John Brinkley, and the corrected elements of the comet.

20 February 1824 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/56
1825

John Frederick William Herschel invents the actinometer to measure the heating power of the Sun’s rays

1825

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will be pleased to accept his invitation to spend some days at Slough.

4 October 1825 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/61
1826

John Frederick William Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions

1826: John Frederick William Herschel publishes “On the parallax of the fixed stars”.

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the loan of his paper on the parallax. Regarding Wilhelm Struve's paper.

2 March 1826 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/63

Autographed letter, incomplete. Remarks on Francis Baily's address on astronomy [fragment only].

22 April 1826 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/66
1827

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce presents his photographs in England for the first time

1827

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding his theory of measuring heights by means of the barometer.

28 January 1827 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/67
1828

Autograph letter signed by sender. Remarks on Saturn and measurable discs of stars.

21 April 1828 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/77

Autograph letter signed by sender. Invitation to dine with him. Regarding Richard Taylor the printer.

17 June 1828 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/80

Autograph letter signed by sender. Instructions on how to reach Tytherley. Has not seen Encke's Comet yet.

18 September 1828 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/86
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

Autograph letter signed by sender. Concerning the necessity for two observatories in the Southern Hemisphere.

19 December 1830 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/92
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

1832
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

Autograph letter signed by sender. Must see him on an important matter.

29 January 1833 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/114

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for the pheasants. Has a communication for the Royal Astronomical Society

21 October 1833 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/118
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

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the double star Gamma Virginis.

27 February 1836 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/132

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the gales which swept England at the end of November.

8 December 1836 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/137
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

Autograph letter signed by sender. Observations regarding the nebulous star 1281.

16 December 1837 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/141
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.

Copy of a letter. Arrangements about meeting with Francis Baily.

17 May 1838 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/21/245
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

Autograph letter signed by sender. Approves of the arrangements made by Francis Baily regarding the loan of the theodolite.

15 February 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/151

Autograph letter signed by sender. On the variability of the star Alpha Cassiopeia.

28 April 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/158

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has marked Thomas Maclear's paper and returned it to Thomas Galloway.

28 April 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/159

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the Parramatta Observatory. Has produced some colored photographic images.

27 September 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/162

Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses a letter to the Admiralty for John Frederick William Herschel's signature.

15 November 1839 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/164

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the Cavendish experiments.

17 November 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/165

Draft letter signed by sender, corrections visible. Further regarding the Cavendish experiments.

17 November 1839 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/166

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has had no further tidings of the pendulum so has drafted the enclosed letter.

6 December 1839 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/170

Autograph letter signed by sender. Observations of [Kensa?] received. The George Everest-Thomas Jervis affair.

1839? Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/283
1840

Autograph letter signed by sender. Will be expecting him on Thursday.

7 January 1840 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/173

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding an address to the Queen. Hopes to see him on Thursday.

6 March 1840 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/178

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the award of the Royal Society [of London]'s Royal Medal.

27 November 1840 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/192

Autographed letter, incomplete. Regarding the arrangement of the constellations.

10 December 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/193

Autograph letter signed by sender. Giving news of his own recent work on the grouping of the constellations.

30 December 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/195

Copy of a letter. Will attend R.A.S council and stay with Francis Baily; question of expulsion of three members.

9 February 1840 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/22/42
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. Sends letter on the subject of the star maps.

2 April 1841 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/200

Autograph letter signed by sender. Is sending him his chart of the stars.

8 June 1841 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/208

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the printing of the star catalogues.

26 July 1841 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/213

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the printing of N. L. Lacaille's catalogue.

27 July 1841 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/214

Copy of a letter. Further about the map printing problem [see Francis Baily's 1841-4-6].

9 April 1841 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/25/8/36
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. Requesting any information on J. J. Littrow for his obituary notice.

19 January 1842 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/223

Autograph letter signed by sender. Account of the eclipse seen at Pavia.

10 July 1842 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/225

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has sent the papers on the eclipse to G. B. Airy.

1 September 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/229

Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments on the various reports of the recent eclipse. Regarding the star constellations.

13 September 1842 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/230

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has written to G. B. Airy. Regarding the various reports of the recent eclipse.

10 November 1842 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/232
1843

Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses a publication. Thanks for the gift to Miss Elizabeth Baily.

2 January 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/233

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding his own support for W. B. O'Shaughnessy. Star reform in the Southern hemisphere.

25 February 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/236

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the method to be adopted for the printing of the star catalogue.

4 March 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/237

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the constellations.

15 March 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/238

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the method to be adopted for the printing of the star catalogue.

17 March 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/239

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the constellations.

20 March 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/240

Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses a draft of a letter that it is proposed should be sent to Sir Robert Peel.

22 March 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/241

Autograph letter signed by sender. Accepts his invitation to visit him in order to discuss various matters.

25 March 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/242

Copy of a letter. Regarding Francis Baily's paper on the revision of the boundaries of the constellations.

10 May 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/245a

Autograph letter signed by sender. Can John Frederick William Herschel come to the congress on Friday?

22 May 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/248

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has invited some astronomical friends to the meeting on Friday.

26 May 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/249

Autograph letter signed by sender. Mr. Jensen called to say that he will be visiting Collingwood on Monday with the map.

25 July 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/254

Autograph letter signed by sender. Has received his letter and incorporated the amendments in the paper.

22 November 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/264

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the revision of the constellations.

14 December 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/265

Autograph letter signed by sender. Comments regarding the proposed revision of the constellations.

16 December 1843 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/266

Autograph letter signed by sender. Invitation to come to Collingwood to discuss star arrangements.

13? March 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/280

Autographed letter . Has sent note to the Times about the comet.

March 1843 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/281

Copy of a letter. Describes his view of the Great Comet of 1843.

1843-3 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/25/8/53
1844

Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1844

Autograph letter signed by sender. Justification for his nomenclature in the star catalogue.

22 January 1844 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/269

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the arrangement of 'Argo.'

29 January 1844 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/270

Autograph letter signed by sender. Would like to hear from him regarding 'Argo.'

10 February 1844 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/271

Autograph letter signed by sender. Gives his own views regarding 'Argo' and the renaming of the constellations.

11 February 1844 Sender: John Frederick William Herschel Reference number: HS/3/272

Autograph letter signed by sender. Further regarding the arrangement of 'Argo.'

12 February 1844 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/273

Autograph letter signed by sender. Regarding the arrangement of 'Malus.'

15 February 1844 Sender: Francis Baily , Francis Baily Reference number: HS/3/274
1845

Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association

1845

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

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.