Adams, John Couch (1819-1892), astronomer

6 letters, autograph, dated and signed. Correspondents include R. Potts (no. 24) and Dr. Latham (no. 26). One letter, includes a short description of Couch's life and an envelope addressed to A.W. Perton, Norwich (no. 27).

1845-1886

6 items

Adams, John Couch (1819-1892), astronomer, born in Cornwall. Adams became famous because he was the co-discoverer of the planet Neptune by mathematical calculation. He achieved two other major achievements. These were, his memoir on the secular acceleration of the moon's mean motion and his determination of the orbit of the Leonid meteorids. From 1859 until his death, he worked as a professor at Cambridge University. In 1892, he died of a stomach haemorrhage. A full description of his life and work is to be found in the Dictionary of National Biography.