It has been said that being scientific in Victorian England meant to be as much like John Herschel as possible. This volume shows readers what it meant to be John Herschel (1792-1871), one of England's most prominent polymaths. Drawing on his published oeuvre and recent scholarship, as well as an immense amount of surviving archival material and correspondence, these essays present the first ever comprehensive account of Herschel's life, work, and legacy. From mathematics and astronomy, to philosophy and politics, the volume sheds new light on his crucial role in the history of Victorian science and explores a wide array of issues in the history of nineteenth-century culture, philosophy, mathematics, and beyond.
Edited by:
Stephen Case,
Lukas M. Verburgt
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 17mm
Weight: 448g
ISBN: 9781009237673
ISBN 10: 1009237675
Series: Cambridge Companions to History
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 29 February 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction Stephen Case and Lukas M. Verburgt; 1. John Herschel: a biographical sketch Emily Winterburn; 2. The mathematical journey of John Herschel Tony Crilly; 3. John Herschel's astronomy Stephen Case; 4. Stargazer at world's end: John Herschel at the cape, 1833–1838 Steve Ruskin; 5. Herschel's philosophy of science: the preliminary discourse on the study of natural philosophy and beyond Lukas M. Verburgt; 6. Drawing observations together: John Herschel and the act of drawing in scientific observation Omar W. Nasim; 7. Photology, photography, and actino-chemistry: the photographic work of John Herschel Kelley Wilder; 8. Herschel's planet: earth in cosmic perspective Gregory A. Good; 9. John Herschel and scientific standardization Edward J. Gillin; 10. John Herschel and politics William J. Ashworth; 11. John Herschel's methodology in the scientific community Charles H. Pence.
Stephen Case is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Geosciences, Olivet Nazarene University, and author of Making Stars Physical: the Astronomy of Sir John Herschel (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018). Lukas M. Verburgt is Gerda Henkel Stiftung Research Scholar and affiliated to the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study. He has authored and coedited several books and numerous articles on the history of science and philosophy in nineteenth-century Britain.
