Sir William James Herschel 2nd Baronet of Slough was born January 9, 1833 in Slough, Buckinghamshire, England, the son of Sir John Frederick W. Herschel and Marie Stewart Herschel. [1]He was the brother of Caroline Emelia Mary Herschel, Isabella Herschel, Margaret Louisa Herschel, Alexander Stewart Herschel, John Herschel Colonel, Maria Sophia Herschel, Amelia Herschel, Julia Mary Herschel, Matilda Rose Herschel, Francesca Herschel and Constance Anne Herschel
On 19 May 1864 he married (Anne) Emma Hardcastle, youngest daughter of Alfred Hardcastle of Hatcham House, Surrey. She died at the birth of their second son, having borne him 4 children:
Herschel is credited with being the first European to note the value of fingerprints for identification. He recognized that fingerprints were unique and permanent. He used them to document his contracts. [3]
Sir William died October 24, 1917 in Slough, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom.[4]
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Categories: British Notables | Notables