Sir William Lower (1570 – 12 April 1615)[1] was an English astronomer from the early telescopic period, and a Member of Parliament.
He was born in Cornwall, and after studying at Exeter College, Oxford, he married and settled in South-west Wales. In 1607, he observed Halley's comet and took a number of careful measurements which he communicated to Thomas Harriot, by which it was determined that the comet was following a curved course. Lower suggested that the comet's orbit obeyed Kepler's laws (instead of being an atmospheric phenomenon or following a rectilinear path, as was generally thought at the time).
Using a telescope that had been provided by Harriot, Lower made a number of observations of the moon, and noted that its surface appeared irregular and "like a tart that my cooke made me last weeke". Similar observations were published by Galileo a few weeks later.
Lower represented Bodmin in the 1601 parliament, and Lostwithiel from 1604 to 1611. He was knighted in 1603.[2]
^Jones, Bryn. "Sir William Lower". Retrieved 13 August 2012.
^Alumni Oxoniensis 1500-1714 "Lower, (Sir) William, of Cornwall, gen. fil. EXETER COLL., matric. 10 June 1586, aged 16; of Treventy, co. Carmarthen, astronomer; student of Middle Temple 1589 (as son and heir of Thomas, of Winnow, Cornwall, esq.); knighted at Theobalds 11 May 1603; M.P. Bodmin 1601, Lostwithiel 1604-11; died 12 April 1615; brother of Alexander and Nicholas; father of Thomas 1643."
^Lower, Sir William (c.1570-1615), of St. Winnow, Cornwall and Trefenti (Tra'Venti), Llanfihangel Abercowin, Carmarthenshire, History of Parliament Retrieved 19 August 2013.
^Trefenty, Dyfed Archaeological Trust Retrieved 19 August 2013.
Roche, J.J. (2004). "Lower, Sir William (c.1570–1615)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39195. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
January 01, 1970
william, lower, astronomer, william, lower, 1570, april, 1615, english, astronomer, from, early, telescopic, period, member, parliament, born, cornwall, after, studying, exeter, college, oxford, married, settled, south, west, wales, 1607, observed, halley, com. Sir William Lower 1570 12 April 1615 1 was an English astronomer from the early telescopic period and a Member of Parliament He was born in Cornwall and after studying at Exeter College Oxford he married and settled in South west Wales In 1607 he observed Halley s comet and took a number of careful measurements which he communicated to Thomas Harriot by which it was determined that the comet was following a curved course Lower suggested that the comet s orbit obeyed Kepler s laws instead of being an atmospheric phenomenon or following a rectilinear path as was generally thought at the time Using a telescope that had been provided by Harriot Lower made a number of observations of the moon and noted that its surface appeared irregular and like a tart that my cooke made me last weeke Similar observations were published by Galileo a few weeks later Lower represented Bodmin in the 1601 parliament and Lostwithiel from 1604 to 1611 He was knighted in 1603 2 Lower married Penelope Perrot the daughter of Sir Thomas Perrot and Dorothy Devereux by whom he had three sons and a daughter 3 4 5 After Lower s death Penelope nee Perrot married secondly Sir Robert Naunton by whom she had a daughter Penelope who married Philip Herbert 5th Earl of Pembroke Notes edit Jones Bryn Sir William Lower Retrieved 13 August 2012 Alumni Oxoniensis 1500 1714 Lower Sir William of Cornwall gen fil EXETER COLL matric 10 June 1586 aged 16 of Treventy co Carmarthen astronomer student of Middle Temple 1589 as son and heir of Thomas of Winnow Cornwall esq knighted at Theobalds 11 May 1603 M P Bodmin 1601 Lostwithiel 1604 11 died 12 April 1615 brother of Alexander and Nicholas father of Thomas 1643 Lower Sir William c 1570 1615 of St Winnow Cornwall and Trefenti Tra Venti Llanfihangel Abercowin Carmarthenshire History of Parliament Retrieved 19 August 2013 Trefenty Dyfed Archaeological Trust Retrieved 19 August 2013 Roche 2004 References edit nbsp Cornwall portal Roche J J 2004 Lower Sir William c 1570 1615 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 39195 Subscription or UK public library membership required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Lower astronomer amp oldid 1189217985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
