A Letter from William Herschel, Esq., F.R.S.,
to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., P.R.S.

“Sir,—By the observations of the most eminent astronomers in Europe it appears that the new star, which I had the honour of pointing out to them in March 1781, is a Primary Planet of our Solar System. A body so nearly related to us by its similar condition and situation in the unbounded expanse of the starry heavens, must often be the subject of conversation, not only of astronomers, but of every lover of science in general. This consideration then makes it necessary to give it a name whereby it may be distinguished from the rest of the planets and fixed stars.

“In the fabulous ages of ancient times, the appellations of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were given to the planets as being the names of their principal heroes and divinities. In the present more philosophical era, it would hardly be allowable to have recourse to the same method, and call on Juno, Pallas, Apollo, or Minerva for a name to our new heavenly body. The first consideration in any particular event, or remarkable incident, seems to be its chronology: if in any future age it should be asked, when this last found planet was discovered? It would be a very satisfactory answer to say, ‘In the reign of King George the Third.’ As a philosopher then, the name Georgium Sidus presents itself to me, as an appellation which will conveniently convey the information of the time and country where and when it was brought to view. But as a subject of the best of kings, who is the liberal protector of every art and science; as a native of the country from whence this illustrious family was called to the British throne; as a member of that Society which flourishes by the distinguished liberality of its royal patron; and, last of all, as a person now more immediately under the protection of this excellent monarch, and owing everything to his unlimited bounty;—I cannot but wish to take this opportunity of expressing my sense of gratitude by giving the nameGeorgium Sidus. Georgium Sidus,

Georgium Sidus
——jam nunc assuesce vocari,
Virg. Georg.

to a star which (with respect to us) first began to shine under his auspicious reign.

“By addressing this letter to you, Sir, as President of the Royal Society, I take the most effectual method of communicating that name to the literati of Europe, which I hope they will receive with pleasure.—I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant,

W. Herschel.”

This letter reminds us how long it was since a new name had been required for a new planet,—to find a similar occasion Herschel had to go to the almost prehistoric past, when the names of heroes and divinities were given to the planets. It is, perhaps, not unnatural that he should have considered an entirely new departure appropriate for a discovery separated by so great a length of time from the others; but his views were not generally accepted, especially on the Continent.Herschel. Lalande courteously proposed the name of Herschel for the new planet, in honour of the discoverer, and this name was used in France; but Bode, on the other hand, was in favour of retaining the old practice simply, and calling the new planet Uranus. All three names seem to have been used for many years. Only the other day I was interested to see an old pack of cards, used for playing a parlour game of Astronomy, in which the name Herschel is used. The owner told me that they had belonged to his grandfather; and the date of publication was 1829, and the place London, so that this name was in common use in England nearly half a century after the actual discovery; though in the “English Nautical Almanac” the name “the Georgian” (apparently preferred to Herschel’s Georgium Sidus) was being used officially after 1791, and did not disappear from that work until 1851 (published in 1847.)

Uranus finally adopted.

It would appear to have been the discovery of Neptune, with which we shall deal in the next chapter, which led to this official change; for in the volume for 1851 is included Adams’ account of his discovery with the title—