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Discover›Science
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William Lassell
Astronomer

William Lassell

Famoose for

Discovering Triton, Ariel and Umbriel with self-built telescopes.

Reflecting telescope

Born
18 June 1799
Birthplace
Bolton
Died
5 October 1880

More people

Marie CurieDiscovering polonium and radium.Albert EinsteinDeveloping the theory of relativity.Charles DarwinExplaining evolution through natural selection.

William Lassell

English astronomer who improved reflecting telescopes and observed planetary satellites.

Early life

Lancashire

Studied in Bolton and Rochdale before a Liverpool commercial apprenticeship from 1814 to 1821.

Career

  1. 1846

    Triton

    Discovered Neptune’s largest moon.

  2. 1848

    Hyperion

    Independently co-discovered Saturn’s moon.

  3. 1851

    Uranian moons

    Discovered Ariel and Umbriel.

  4. 1870

    Astronomical Society

    Began a two-year presidency.

Contributions

Reflecting telescope

Built and polished large metal mirrors for his observing work.

Beyond work

Brewing business

Financed his astronomical research through a successful brewing business.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.