People

William Henry Finlay’s biography, fact, career, awards, net worth and life story

Intro South African astronomer
Was Astronomer
From South Africa
Type Science
Gender male
Birth

17 June 1849, Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, North West England

Death

7 December 1924, Cape Town, City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
(aged 75 years)

William Henry Finlay (born 17 June 1849 in Liverpool; died 7 December 1924 in Cape Town, South Africa) was a South African astronomer. He was First Assistant at the Cape Observatory from 1873 to 1898 under Edward James Stone. He discovered the periodic comet 15P/Finlay. Earlier, he was one of the first to spot the “Great Comet of 1882” (C/1882 R1). The first telegraphic determinations of longitude along the western coast of Africa were made by Finlay and T. F. Pullen.

Publications

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  • with T. F. Pullen:  
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