Educated at City of London School. After a few years of business he decided to devote himself to astronomy. F. R. A. S. 1854. In 1856 he built an observatory at Tulse Hill and applied to stars the methods of Kirchhofs researches into the chemical constitution of the sun. In conjunction with William Allen Miller (F. R. S. 1845) he devised the star spectroscope and showed that in structure the stars resemble the sun. F. R. S. 1865. Royal Medal 1866. Rumford Medal 1880. Copley Medal 1898. President of British Association 1891. K. C. B. 1897. O. M. 1902. He was elected 37th President of the Royal Society 1900-1905. In 1890 he received a civil list pension.