Edmond Halley

Born in London on 8 November 1656, Edmond Halley was a gifted astronomer and polymath and a founding father of geophysics . In 1673 Halley entered Oxford University, where he became a protégé of astronomer royal John Flamsteed. In 1676 Halley left his studies to undertake the first of several oceanic voyages for scientific purposes. He set sail to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic to compile a catalog of the stars in the Southern Hemisphere. The trip was a resounding success, and when he returned two years later, Halley was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and received his MA from Oxford. Over his career, Halley studied a variety of astronomical topics, including cometary orbits. He famously predicted the return of what has come to be known as Halley’s comet. Halley also investigated gravity and planetary motion, built a diving bell, and created mortality tables, which influenced the development of actuarial science. He was also instrumental in the publication in 1687 of Isaac Newton’s Principia, which Halley edited and funded. In 1720 Halley succeeded Flamsteed as astronomer royal. He remained active in research and continued to publish scientific papers throughout most of his life. Halley died at age 85 in 1742.

Date in History: 8 November 1656