Conclusion

As stated in the opening to this work, Sir William Herschel was without question the greatest visual observer ever, as well as the greatest telescope-maker of his time. The fact that he accomplished so much in the field of astronomy without any formal education – using instruments made entirely by his own hands – is truly an inspiration for all of us who love the stars. The vows made by this unknown “amateur” to “carry improvements in telescopes to their utmost extent” and “to leave no spot of the heavens unvisited” were unprecedented in the long annals of astronomy. Truly, here was a man fired with a visionary passion for the heavens!