Caroline Herschel - Early Life

Early Life

Caroline was born in Hannover to Isaac Herschel and Anna Ilse Moritzen of Hannover. Her father was of Jewish descent. At the time, the crowns of England and Hannover were united under George II., meaning that movement back and forth was easy. Isaak led a musical family, and William twelve years Caroline's senior, became an army oboist in his teens. After seeing combat and deciding on a new career William decided to go to England, moving there in 1757 at the age of nineteen. Upon Isaak's death in 1767 Caroline was left working in the family kitchen, and when an invitation to join William arrived she moved to join him in 1772.

By this point William had established himself as an organist and music teacher at 19 New King Street, Bath, Somerset (now the Herschel Museum of Astronomy). She took several singing lessons a day from William, who had become the choirmaster of the Octagon Chapel. William was busy with his musical career and became fairly busy organizing public concerts. Caroline was the principal singer at his oratorio concerts, and acquired such a reputation as a vocalist that she was offered an engagement for the Birmingham festival which she declined. But it appears that Caroline did not blend in with the local society and made few friends.

William's interest in astronomy started as a hobby to pass time at night. Caroline became as interested as William. William became known for his work on high performance telescopes, and Caroline found herself supporting his efforts. Caroline’s astronomy fit the central aims of the new astronomical society of London established in 1820 better than William. Caroline possessed incredible dexterity in polishing mirrors and mounting telescopes. With time, Caroline learned to copy astronomical catalogues and other publications that William had borrowed. She also learned to record, reduce, and organize her brother’s astronomical observations. She recognized that this work demanded speed and accuracy rather than understanding. However, at William’s insistence, Caroline began to make observations on her own in 1782. This insistence led to many accomplishments. Caroline no longer had to depend solely on her singing to gain satisfaction; rather she was able to contribute to society far more than she thought she would. William was labeled an astronomer; however, Caroline Herschel was an astronomer in her own right. After taking her brother’s advice to understand astronomy, she discovered more than half a dozen comets in the 1780s and 1790s. Several are named after her in some way. Throughout her writings, she repeatedly makes it clear that she desires to earn an independent wage. When this is rewarded by the state for her assistance to her brother, she becomes the first woman—at a time when even men rarely received wages for scientific enterprises—to receive a salary for services to science.

When William married a rich widow in 1788, it caused tension in the brother-sister relationship. Caroline was known as a bitter, jealous woman who worshipped her brother and resented those who invaded their domestic lives. Therefore when he married, Caroline was always upset. William's new wife made every possible effort to stay on good terms with Caroline, but it was useless, Caroline remained bitter. This situation also contributed to her many discoveries. In the event that her brother became occupied with a wife, Caroline continued to work solo on many of the astronomical projects which contributed to her rise to fame. After her brother died she moved back to Hannover Germany.