Jeremiah Horrocks Transit of Venus, 1639

jeremiah horrocks (1618 – 3 january 1641) born in lower lodge, toxteth park, part of liverpool; father, james watchmaker, , mother mary (née aspinwall) notable toxteth park family. several members of aspinwall family in watchmaking trade, , said watchmaker uncle first interested jeremiah in astronomy. jeremiah joined emmanuel college on 11 may 1632 , matriculated member of university of cambridge on 5 july 1632 sizar, meant did not have means support himself , given specific duties compensate reduction in fees. @ cambridge, have studied arts, classical languages, little geometry, , traditional astronomy, not latest work of galileo, tycho brahe , kepler. used spare time teach himself more demanding mathematical astronomy , familiarise himself latest thinking. horrocks read of astronomical treatises of day, found weaknesses in them, , suggesting new lines of research age of 17. in 1635, left cambridge without formally graduating, presumably owing cost of graduation.

after leaving cambridge, horrocks returned home in lancashire , began collecting books , instruments in order pursue main interest, study of astronomy. in summer of 1639, left home , moved 18 miles along coast village of hoole, thought took post tutor children of stones family, prosperous haberdashers living @ carr house, within bank hall estate, bretherton.

horrocks first demonstrate moon moved in elliptical path around earth. wrote treatise on keplerian astronomy , began explore mathematically properties of force became known gravity; isaac newton in principia acknowledged horrocks s work in relation theory of moon.