Agnes Mary Clerke and the rise of astrophysics

Born in Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century, Agnes Mary Clerke achieved fame as the author of A History of Astronomy during the nineteenth century. Through her quarter-century career, she became the leading commentator on astronomy and astrophysics in the English-speaking world. This biography describes not only the life and work of this extraordinary woman, but also chronicles the development of astronomy in the last decades of pre-Einstein science. Along the way, it introduces many of the great figures in astronomy of that age, including Huggins, Lockyer, Holden, and Pickering. This Biography Of Agnes Clerke Describes The Life And Work Of This Extraordinarily Erudite But Unassuming Woman. Her Story Is Also A Chronicle Of The Development Of Astronomy In The Last Decades Of Pre-einstein Science, And Introduces Many Of The Great Figures In Astronomy Of That Age, Huggins, Lockyer, Holden, Pickering, Gill, Vogel And Hale, And Their Achievements And Their Rivalries. Her Life Was Closely Linked With That Of Her Talented Journalist Sister Ellen, Whose Activities Throw Further Light On Agnes Clerke's Personality And Motivation. The Story Follows Her Friendship With William And Margaret Huggins, And Her Prolific Correspondence With Eminent Astronomers Of The Time Such As David Gill Of The Cape And George Ellery Hale Of California. This Biography Of Agnes Clerke Will Fascinate Not Only Scientists But Everyone Who Admires Intellectual Achievement Brought About Through Love Of Learning And Sheer Hard Work.--book Jacket. Family Background In County Cork -- Ireland And Italy -- London, The Literary Scene -- The History Of Astronomy -- A Circle Of Astronomers -- A Visit To South Africa -- The System Of The Stars -- Social Life In Scientific Circles -- Homer, The Herschels And A Revised History -- The Opinion Moulder -- Popularisation, Cryogenics And Evolution -- Problems In Astrophysics -- Women In Astronomy In Britain In Agnes Clerke's Time -- Revised System Of The Stars -- Cosmogonies, Cosmology And Nature's Spiritual Clues -- Last Days And Retrospect. M.t. Brück. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-270) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1 Family background in County Cork......Page 14 2 Ireland and Italy......Page 27 3 London, the literary scene......Page 42 4 The History of Astronomy......Page 50 5 A circle of astronomers......Page 59 6 A visit to South Africa......Page 73 7 The System of the Stars......Page 90 8 Social life in scientific circles......Page 109 9 Homer, the Herschels and a revised History......Page 126 10 The opinion moulder......Page 142 11 Popularisation, cryogenics and evolution......Page 159 12 Problems in Astrophysics......Page 172 13 Women in astronomy in Britain in Agnes Clerke’s time......Page 186 14 Revised System of the Stars......Page 200 15 Cosmogonies, cosmology and Nature’s spiritual clues......Page 215 16 Last days and retrospect......Page 224 17 Epilogue......Page 240 Notes......Page 244 Appendix......Page 272 Bibliography......Page 280 C......Page 282 G......Page 283 M......Page 284 S......Page 285 Z......Page 286 Born in Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century, Agnes Mary Clerke achieved fame as the author of A History of Astronomy during the Nineteenth Century. Through her quarter-century career, she became the leading commentator on astronomy and astrophysics in the English-speaking world. The biography of Agnes Clerke describes the life and work of this extraordinary woman. It also chronicles the development of astronomy in the last decades of pre-Einstein science, and introduces many of the great figures in astronomy of that age including Huggins, Lockyer, Holden and Pickering; their achievements and their rivalries. The story follows her friendship with William and Margaret Huggins, and her prolific correspondence with eminent astronomers of the time. This biography will fascinate scientists, and anyone who admires intellectual achievement brought about through love of learning and sheer hard work. Born in Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century, Agnes Mary Clerke achieved fame as the author of A History of Astronomy during the Nineteenth Century. This biography describes the life of the woman who became the leading commentator of her time on astronomy and astrophysics in the English-speaking world. Agnes Mary Clerke, born on 10 February 1842 in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, was the second of three children of John William Clerke, manager of the Provincial Bank in that town,and his wife Catherine Mary nee Deasy (Figure 1.1).