A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Herschel, Frederick
HERSCHEL, Sir Frederick William, K.C.H., D.C.L. ('Sir William Herschel'), born at Hanover, Nov. 15, 1738, was second son of a musician there. He received a good education, and being destined for the profession of his father, was, at the age of 14, placed in the band of the Hanoverian regiment of guards. He came to England with the regiment about 1757 and was stationed at Durham. He soon became organist of Halifax parish church, and continued so until 1766, when he was appointed organist of the Octagon Chapel, Bath. Whilst residing at Bath he turned his attention to astronomy, and pursued his studies for several years during the intervals of his professional duties. He constructed a telescope of large dimensions, and in 1781 announced the discovery of a supposed comet, which soon proved to be the planet Uranus. He was thereupon appointed private astronomer to the king, with a salary of £400 per annum, and abandoned the musical profession. He removed to Datchet and afterwards to Slough, was knighted, and received an honorary degree at Oxford. In the summer of 1792 he was visited at Slough by Haydn. He died Aug. 23, 1822. He published a symphony for orchestra and two military concertos for wind instruments in 1768.
Jacob Herschel, his elder brother, born about 1734, was master of the king's band at Hanover, came to England and died here in 1792. He composed some instrumental music.