The Cambridge Companion to John Herschel
by Stephen Case, Lukas M. Verburgt
John Herschel was one of the most prominent figures in Victorian science. This is the first-ever comprehensive account of his life, work and legacy. Drawing on Herschel's published oeuvre and surviving archival material, these essays explore an extraordinary mind, asking what it meant to think scientifically in the nineteenth century.
Hardcover
Brand New
Publisher Description
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.
Author Biography
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.
Table of Contents
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.
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The first-ever comprehensive account of John Herschel's life, work and legacy, shedding new light on the history of Victorian science.
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