William Lassell 1799 - 1880 Telescopes, Planets, and Drinking Beer

Talk by Gerard Gilligan
00:06:30 Main talk
William Lassell has been described by several historians of astronomy as a “Grand Amateur”, and many of them did exist in 19th century Britain. These wealthy Victorian gentlemen and several ladies used their own independent means to pursue a passion for the science of astronomy. Lassell, born in 1799 in the Lancashire town of Bolton became an accomplished astronomical observer, designer and builder of large speculum mirror telescopes.
However his passion for astronomy was paid for indirectly by the thirsty workers, seafarer’s, and the local residence of the growing maritime port of Liverpool. It was from this great Victorian city that after 1825 as a local brewer Lassell financed, his great telescopes, observatories and extend our knowledge of our outer solar system, the giant gas planets and their satellites. He is best known for the discovery of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, just days after the planet itself was first identified in 1846. He also mapped many deep sky objects.
The lecture will describe not only his astronomical achievements and accomplishments with the development of the telescope, but his social and family background.
The lecture is also supported by a 42 page booklet, published in 2021 with the aid of The Society for the History of Astronomy, and available to purchase from the society.