SIR WILLIAM HUGGINS, K. C. B., O. M. 1 



[With 1 plate.] 



By W. W. Campbell. 



The name of Sir William Huggins is intimately associated with 

 the entire history of astronomical spectroscopy. With Rutherfurd, 

 Secchi, Angstrom, Draper, and others, he was a pioneer in this sub- 

 ject; and by virtue of long life, enthusiasm, and uncommon wisdom, 

 his contributions have enriched astronomical knowledge during a full 

 half century. His lamented death on May 12, 1910, at the ripe age 

 of 86 years, calls for a review of his remarkable career. 



William Huggins was born in London on February 7, 1824. His 

 father was in commercial life, and was able to provide the son not 

 only with a good education, but the financial means to follow as- 

 tronomy in a private capacity, unattached to university or estab- 

 lished observatory. His early education was received in the City of 

 London School, and he later studied the languages, mathematics, 

 and various branches of science extensively under private tutors. 

 Astronomy and microscopy were subjects of special interest, and it 

 was a difficult question with him as to which he should attempt to 

 advance through original investigations. The decision was made in 

 favor of astronomy. In 1856 he removed to 90 Upper Tulse Hill, 

 then a short distance in the open country south of London, now 

 within the great city, where he erected an observatory in connection 

 with his dwelling house ; and there all of his work was done. " It 

 consisted of a dome 12 feet in diameter and a transit room. There 

 was erected in it an equatorially mounted telescope by Dolland of 5 

 inches aperture, at that time looked upon as a large rather than a 

 small instrument." He commenced work on the usual lines, taking 

 transits, observing the planets, and making drawings of planets. In 

 1858 the 5-inch refractor was replaced by a Clark 8-inch refractor of 

 great excellence. 



1 Reprinted by permission after author's revision from publications of the Astronomical 

 Society of the Pacific, vol. 22, No. 133, San Francisco, October, 1910. 



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