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Sir John Herschel and the Development of Spectroscopy in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2009

M. A. Sutton
M. A. Sutton
Affiliation:
Department of Humanities, Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic, Ellison Place, Newcastle NE1 8ST.
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Extract

One of the most dramatic advances in the physical sciences during the nineteenth century was the emergence of spectroscopy. It rapidly became an invaluable experimental technique for chemists and astronomers, while for physicists it opened a window upon the world of sub-atomic phenomena. Sir John Herschel played an important part, the value of which has sometimes been underestimated, in the early development of spectroscopy. This paper examines his contribution to the subject during the period 1819–61 in the light of his publications and of certain manuscript material preserved in the Royal Society's Library. Herschel corresponded with most of the scientists who did important work in spectroscopy during his lifetime, and he expressed definite opinions on most of the practical and theoretical problems that arose in it; however, the present study cannot pretend to offer a complete discussion of all aspects of the early history of spectroscopy.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal for the History of Science , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 1974 , pp. 42 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © British Society for the History of Science 1974

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References

* The author wishes to thank the Royal Society for permission to study and quote from the Herschel Papers, and Dr E. J. Bowen, Mr G. L'E. Turner, and Dr A. D. Orange for reading parts of this paper and offering much helpful advice.

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