Book Review: The Unloved Le Verrier: Le Verrier: Magnificent and Detestable Astronomer

Abstract

Verrier: Magnificent and Detestable Astronomer. James Lequeux, translated by Bernard Sheehan, introduction by William Sheehan (Astrophysics and Space Science Library, 397; Springer, New York, 2013). Pp. xvi +337. £117. ISBN 978-1-4614-5564-6.After writing a scientific biography of the celebrated and much-loved astronomer Francois Arago, James Lequeux (in 2009) produced a similar account of the equally celebrated, but much less loved, successor of Arago as Director of the Paris Observatory, Urbain-Jean-Joseph Verrier (1811-77). This English version casts a fresh light on Verrier - the astronomer who discovered the planet Neptune at the end of his pen in September 1846.Regrettably, most English-speaking readers are likely to know of Verrier in the context of the international priority dispute surrounding the discovery of Neptune and whether the Englishman, John Couch Adams, as well as the French astronomer, ought to have been given credit for predicting where the new planet would be found. The inspiring story of the Neptune discovery is covered well in the first two chapters of this book. Verrier's long career, however, was full of achievement on many fronts, including astronomical geodesy and meteorology, and this is described with copious illustrations in the remaining chapters. The images in this edition, it must be said, are deployed in a much better way than in the French version.Modem historians customarily avoid being judgemental when dealing with past astronomers, so the book's title is likely to raise eyebrows amongst readers who are unfamiliar with the history of the Paris Observatory. That he was 'detested', however, by a considerable number of those with whom he had dealings was an unfortunate feature of Verrier's career and it had a significant impact on what he was able to achieve. In his personal relationships he was often brusque and arrogant. A contemporary quipped, Le Verrier produces sharp words as naturally as the apple tree bears apples (p. 131). We read that even a colleague as illustrious as Charles famed for his theory of the Moon's motion, felt oppressed. Delaunay, observed Leon Foucault, only thinks of two things: the Moon and Verrier. When he is thinking about the Moon, he has a large, expansive face, like the full Moon. On the other hand, if he is thinking of Verrier he has the face of a bulldog (p. 15). At one stage Verrier's dictatorial style provoked mass resignations by the staff of the Observatory.Politically, Verrier was firmly on the right in French politics, the polar opposite of Arago who had served as provisional head of state during the turbulent events of 1848 and had been instrumental in abolishing slavery in the French colonies. …