Correspondence map
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John Frederick William Herschel
Charles Robert Darwin
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. Has promised Alexander Macleay that he would send details of the nets John Frederick William Herschel used to catch pelagic animals.
2 November 1838 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/10Sir 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
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”
Sir Robert Peel becomes Prime Minister
1841
Birth of Amelia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1841
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”
Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1844
Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association
1845
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
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.
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
Autograph letter signed by sender. As John Frederick William Herschel has accepted the superintendency of the Admiralty Manual he will try to undertake the geological part, but it will take time as he is busy on another project.
4 February 1848 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/11
Autograph letter signed by sender. As John Frederick William Herschel is interested in colors he sends him details of the color changes that the genus Ibla undergoes. Will send him a specimen if desired.
11 May 1848 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/12
Autograph letter signed by sender. Encloses samples of the Ibla. Outlines the method of making it change color. Hopes he will not have to re-write his geological chapter for the Admiralty Manual.
6 June 1848 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/13
Autograph letter signed by sender. Has forwarded John Frederick William Herschel's note to Robert Mallet, who no doubt will compress his part. Encloses his own part,which he fears may be too long. Would like a chance to see the proofs. When completed would like several copies.
21 March 1848 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/14
Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends his manuscript. P.O. has been unable to trace the missing parcel. Comments on J. B. Elie de Beaumont's method of measuring lava streams; emphasizes the importance of repeated observations. Would like copies of the manual when completed.
7 May 1848 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/15Sir John Herschel publishes Outlines of Astronomy.
1849
Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks for his obliging note. Has already had one from John Murray. Hopes the Admiralty Manual will bear fruit. Has been at Malvern for three months and his health has improved enormously.
13 June 1849 Sender: Charles Robert Darwin Reference number: HS/6/16Sir John Herschel is appointed Master of the Mint
1850
Sir John Herschel serves as juror of the Great Exhibition
1851
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
Charles Robert Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species
1859
Sir John Herschel publishes in the Proceedings of the Royal Society
1860: Sir John Herschel publishes some “Remarks on colour-blindness" extracted from a referee report on Pole’s paper on the same subject.
Death of Margaret Louisa Marshall, née Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart
1861
William Morris established the decorative design firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company (later Morris & Company)
1861
Charles Dickens publishes Great Expectations as a three-volume book
1861
Sir John Herschel publishes Physical Geography as part of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
1861
Abraham Lincoln begins his term as President of the United States
4 March 1861
