Henry C. King

Henry C. King

Dr. Henry C. King, Curator of the McLaughlin Planetarium, Royal Ontario Museum, was born in London, England, in 1915 and educated at Sir William Borlase Grammar School, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. His interest in astronomy began at the age of 13 when his father presented him with a copy of Sir Robert Ball’s book, “The Story of the Heavens”. Not content with looking at the night sky with the unaided eye, he studied optics, obtained some lenses from an optician friend, and made the first of several telescopes. These instruments, although small and imperfect, revealed so many wonders that astronomy become a compelling interest.

In 1932 the family moved to Slough, once the scene of the work of Sir William Herschel, discoverer of the planet Uranus and a pioneer in the study of the structure of the heavens. A tentative approach to Lady Constance Lubbock, grand-daughter of the great astronomer, was received with warmth and sympathy, and the Herschel library, with its wealth of books, papers, and letters, was put at his disposal.

Dr. King’s Book of Astronomy

Dr. King realised that he could make no real progress in astronomy without acquiring some formal training in science. He therefore took his degree in astronomy and mathematics at the University of London, and proceeded to the degrees of M.Sc. and Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science.

Finding that astronomy had little to offer him by way of a profession, he held positions in industry and teaching. He specialised in optometry and for seven years was senior lecturer in applied optics at the Northampton College of Advanced Technology (now the City University), London.

Just before World War II he settled down in Slough, near Observatory House, the home of the Herschel family. There he built his own observatory and concentrated on telescope-making and the regular observation of variable stars. In spite of these activities and his business commitments, he maintained a steady flow of articles, papers, and books on optics, astronomy, and the history of science. As an author he is best known for The History of the Telescope (1955), Exploration of the Universe (1964), and Pictorial Guide to the Stars (1966). In 1958 Dr. King was appointed scientific director of the London Planetarium, the first project of its kind in the United Kingdom. Through his efforts and those of a loyal staff of lecturers, the London Planetarium did much to promote a general interest in astronomy in southern England. During this period, he served first as President and then as Papers Secretary of the British Astronomical Association. He was appointed Curator of the McLaughlin Planetarium in September, 1966.

In 1958 Dr. King was appointed scientific director of the London Planetarium, the first project of its kind in the united Kingdom. Through his efforts and those of a loyal staff of lecturers, the London Planetarium did much to promote a general interest in astronomy in southern England. During this period, he served first as President and then as Papers Secretary of the British Astronomical Association. He was appointed Curator of the McLaughlin Planetarium in September, 1966.

(This text was first published in 1976. It has only an historic value).