Herschel, Caroline
| Name |
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| born on | 16 March 1750 | ||||
| Place | Hanover, Germany, 52n24, 9e44 | ||||
| Timezone | LMT m9e44 (is local mean time) | ||||
| Data source |
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| Astrology data |   25°47'  
|
Biography
German singer, and a scientist at a time when women were not acknowledged to have a mind, let alone one to ponder the mysteries of the universe. She was born into a working class family of six kids with a father who was a gardener and a musician, who gained a position as a bandsman in the Prussian army. All the children were trained in mathematics, French and music.
At age ten, Caroline had typhus that stunted her growth; she remained virtually a dwarf at 4’ 3". Her dad advised her that she would never marry as she was not handsome enough but he encouraged her to improve herself with education. His prediction was true; Caroline remained single but had many friends and admirers.
Eleven years younger than her brother William, she joined him in Britain in 1772. He was sympathetic to her condition and needed a housekeeper. He saw that she had voice lessons and she became the most prominent soprano in Bath. As William became more and more immersed in his telescopes, she did not share his passion, though trained in mathematics. She kept her place as his housekeeper but gradually, began to help him in his business. She spent long hours grinding and polishing the mirrors they used to collect light from distant objects. At the age of 32, she became an apprentice to her brother. She knew the mechanics of the craft and had developed the self-confidence lost to her from her period of servitude to her parents.
Caroline began to carry her own authority, and King George III gave her a pension of fifty pounds. This was the first time that a woman was recognized for a scientific position. Her first accomplishments were the detection of nebulae. William gave her a small telescope with which to look for comets. Trivial though it may sound, in this era, comet hunting was the main focus of many astronomers. Caroline's first experience in mathematics was her catalogue of nebulae. She calculated the positions of her brother's and her own discoveries and amassed them into a publication. By 1822 she had discovered eight comets.
After William died, 8/25/1822 in Slough England, Caroline returned to Hanover and lived with her younger brother, Dietrich. Before her death, she catalogued every discovery that she and William had made. She sent this to the scientific community in England, and they proclaimed her an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Irish Academy. Germany honored her as well. The King of Prussia gave her the Gold Medal of Science for her life's accomplishments. She lived to be 98, dying on 1/09/1848, Hanover, Germany.
Relationships
- sibling relationship with Herschel, William (born 15 November 1738)
- other kin relationship with Herschel, Alexander Stewart (born 5 February 1836). Notes: Great aunt/ nephew
- other kin relationship with Herschel, John the Younger (born 29 October 1837). Notes: Great aunt/ nephew
- other kin relationship with Herschel, William James (born 9 January 1833). Notes: Great aunt/ nephew
- has other family relationship with Herschel, Amelia (born 21 February 1841). Notes: Grand-aunt
- compare to chart of Somerville, Mary (born 26 December 1780)
Events
- Family : Change residence 1772 (Moved to Britain to join her brother)
- Death, Cause unspecified 9 January 1848 at 12:00 noon in Hanover, Germany (Age 98)
chart Placidus Equal_H.
Source Notes
LMR quotes Encyclopedia Britannica for date; time unknown
Categories
- Traits : Body : Size (Small, 4' 3")
- Diagnoses : Major Diseases : Other Major diseases (Typhus)
- Vocation : Science : Astronomy (Pro)
- Notable : Awards : Medals (Gold Medal of Science)
