Photo: Lemuel Francis Abbott / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
William Herschel is one of those figures who reminds me how porous the line between art and science once was. He started as an oboist and composer, then turned his curiosity skyward and discovered Uranus and infrared radiation, which is an astonishing reinvention. What moves me most is the partnership with his sister Caroline, two minds scanning the same night sky together. The Copley Medal and Royal Society fellowship confirm the recognition, but the deeper story is intellectual restlessness rewarded. I think of him as someone who listened to the universe in two languages, music and light, and mastered both. A genuinely inspiring life.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William Herschel
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・ハーシェル
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・はーしぇる
- Born
- November 15, 1738 – August 15, 1822
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Horse
- Origin
- Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- astronomer / composer / oboist / musician / physicist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- University of Oxford
Awards & achievements
- 1781 Copley Medal
- 1816 Royal Guelphic Order
- 1788 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 1781 Fellow of the Royal Society
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Account of a Comet. By Mr. Herschel, F. R. S.; Communicated by Dr. Watson, Jun. of Bath, F. R. S | — | |
| Notable work | discovery of Uranus | — | |
| Notable work | Herschel wedge | — | |
| Notable work | infrared radiation | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was William Herschel born?
November 15, 1738 – August 15, 1822.
Where is William Herschel from?
William Herschel is from Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
What does William Herschel do?
William Herschel works as astronomer, composer, oboist, musician, physicist.
What is William Herschel known for?
Notable works include Account of a Comet. By Mr. Herschel, F. R. S.; Communicated by Dr. Watson, Jun. of Bath, F. R. S, discovery of Uranus, Herschel wedge.
Astronomer — see all → · Composer — see all → · More people from Germany →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.