A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Herschel, Caroline Lucretia
HERSCHEL, CAROLINE LUCRETIA,
Sister, and, for a long time, assistant of the celebrated astronomer was born at Hanover, on the 16th. of March, 1750. She is herself distinguished for her astronomical researches, and particularly for the construction of a seienographical globe, in relief, of the surface of the moon. But it was for her brother. Sir William Herschel, that the activity of her mind was awakened. From the first commencement of his astronomical pursuits, her attendance on both his daily labours and nightly watches was put in requisition; and was found so useful, that on his removal to Datchet, and subsequently to Slough—he being then occupied with his reviews of the heavens and other researches—she performed the whole of the arduous and important duties of his astronomical assistant, not only reading the clocks and noting down all the observations from dictation as an amanuensis, but subsequently executing the whole of the extensive and laborious numerical calculations necessary to render them available to science, as well as a multitude of others relative to the various objects of theoretical and experimental inquiry, in which during his long and active career, he at any time engaged. For the performance of these duties. His Majesty King George the Third was pleased to place her in the receipt of a salary sufficient for her singularly moderate wants and retired habits.
Arduous, however, as these occupations must appear, especially when it is considered that her brother's observations were always carried on (circumstances permitting) till daybreak, without regard to season, and indeed chiefly in the winter, they proved insufficient to exhaust her activity. In their intervals she found time both for actual astronomical observations of her own, and for the execution of more than one work of great extent and utility.
The astronomical works which she found leisure to complete were—1st. "A Catalogue of five hundred and sixty-one Stars observed by Flamstead," but which, having escaped the notice of those who framed the "British Catalogue" from that astronomer's observations, are not therein inserted. 2nd. "A General Index of Reference to every Observation of every Star inserted in the British Catalogue." These works were published together in one volume by the Royal Society; and to their utility in subsequent researches Mr. Baily, in his "Life of Flamsteed," pp. 388, 390, bears ample testimony. She further completed the reduction and arrangement as a "Zone Catalogue" of all the nebulae and clusters of stars observed by her brother in his sweeps; a work for which she was honoured with the Gold Medal of the Astronomical Society of London, in 1828; which Society also conferred on her the unusual distinction of electing her an honorary member.
On her brother's death, in 1822, she returned to Hanover, which she never again quitted, passing the last twenty-six years of her life in repose—enjoying the society and cherished by the regard of her remaining relatives and friends; gratified by the occasional visits of eminent astronomers; and honoured with many marks of favour and distinction on the part of the king of Hanover, the crown prince, and his amiable and illustrious consort.
To within a very short period of her death her health continued uninterrupted, her faculties perfect, and her memory (especially of the scenes and circumstances of former days) remarkably clear and distinct.
In 1847, she celebrated the ninety-seventh anniversary of her birth, when the king of Hanover sent to compliment her; the Prince and Princess Royal visited her; and the latter presented her with a magnificent arm-chair, embroidered by herself; and the King of Prussia sent her the gold medal awarded for the extension of the Sciences.
Miss Herschel died at the opening of the following year, January 9th., 1848, crowned with the glory which woman's genius may gain, working in the way Divine Providence appointed her,—as the helper of man. Her end was tranquil and free from suffering—a simple cessation of life.