Peruse Shadow Of The Telescope Rendered By Gunther Buttmann In Physical Edition

very interesting and detailed look at the life of one of the giants ofth century science as well as a key figure in the development of early photography.
Currently the only booklength biography of John Herschel, arguably the most important astronomer and perhaps scientist of the nineteenth century, Buttmann has obviously spent quite a bit of time with Herschel's letters, journals, and published works, and he provides an adequate and accurate overview of Herschel's life and wideranging contributions to science.
Buttmann is not, however, a historian of astronomy, so one doesn't get a sense of how Herschel's work fits into any larger social/scientific contexts for example how Herschel's astronomy related to prevailing practices of astronomy during the period, how Herschel functioned between professional and amateur astronomers, and what were Herschel's opinions of or effects upon the professionalization and fragmentation of natural philosophy taking place during his lifetime.
Read this if you want an outline of Herschel's life, Then read something like Laura Snyder's "Philosophical Breakfast Club" if you want a general account of how Herschel and his friends were important to the evolution of modern science.
This first fulllength biography of Sir John Herschel tells of a remarkable man who contributed to nearly every branch of astronomy, and to half a dozen other sciences as well.
The only son of the astronomer Sir

William Herschel founder of stellar astronomy and discoverer of the planet Uranus, he comes vividly to life in descriptions of his personality and his varied achievements.

Making admirable use of John Herschel's unpublished correspondence, diaries, and notebooks, the author covers his extensive astronomical observations at Cape Town in South Africa, his pioneering work in photography and in physical optics in Britain, his unhappy experiences as Master of the Mint and much more.

John Herschel was so attractive and enterprising an individual that his biography will appeal to general readers as well as to professionals historians of science, astronomers, and scientists in related fields.
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