1. William Lassell was an English merchant and astronomer.
12 Facts About William Lassell
1. 2.
William Lassell is remembered for his improvements to the reflecting telescope and his ensuing discoveries of four planetary satellites.
3.
William Lassell received his early education in Bolton and later attended Rochdale Academy.
4.
William Lassell later made his fortune as a beer brewer, which afforded him the means to pursue his passion for astronomy.
5.
William Lassell built an observatory at his house "Starfield" in West Derby, a suburb of Liverpool.
6.
In 1846, Lassell discovered Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, just 17 days after the discovery of Neptune itself by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, using his self-built instrument.
7.
William Lassell was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1839, won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1849, and served as its president for two years starting in 1870.
8.
William Lassell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1849 and won their Royal Medal in 1858.
9.
William Lassell was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
10.
William Lassell was furthermore elected an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Society of Sciences of Upsala, and received an honorary LL.
11.
William Lassell died in Maidenhead in 1880 and is buried at St Luke's Church.
12.
William Lassell's telescope was presented to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.