Halley was born in a soap-maker family in Haggerston, England, in 1656

Halley was born in a soap-maker family in Haggerston, England, in 1656 (four years before the Restoration of Charles II).

• Halley was born in a soap-maker family in Haggerston, England, in 1656 (four years before the Restoration of Charles II).

• Since he was a child he showed his interest in Maths.

Halley attended St. Paul’s School in London, then he went to Queen’s College (Oxford), and in that period he was introduced into the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

• Halley attended St. Paul’s School in London, then he went to Queen’s College (Oxford), and in that period he was introduced into the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

• After some travels around the world with the East India Company, in 1678 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and, with the intercession of the King, was granted the M.A. degree from Oxford University.

In 1684 he helped Newton in the development of the theory of gravitation; he therefore tried to solve the problem of the planetary motion with Robert Hook and Sir Christopher Wren.

• In 1684 he helped Newton in the development of the theory of gravitation; he therefore tried to solve the problem of the planetary motion with Robert Hook and Sir Christopher Wren.

After some sea voyages undertaken for purely scientific purposes (first in History!!), it was Halley who published the first meteorological chart in 1686 using an isometrically representation. He also introduced a rudimentary working model of a magnetic compass.

• After some sea voyages undertaken for purely scientific purposes (first in History!!), it was Halley who published the first meteorological chart in 1686 using an isometrically representation. He also introduced a rudimentary working model of a magnetic compass.

• When he returned he published some studies about winds and monsoons, and he also identified the cause of atmospheric motions: the solar heating

In 1691, Halley built a diving bell, a device in which the atmosphere was replenished by way of weighted barrels of air sent down from the surface.

• In 1691, Halley built a diving bell, a device in which the atmosphere was replenished by way of weighted barrels of air sent down from the surface.

• And with it he and 5 companions dived to 60feet in the Thames for one and a half hour.

Between 1698-1700 Halley was commissioned as a naval captain and he actually commanded a Royal Navy man-of-war, the Paramour, making two prolonged and eventful ocean voyages.

• Between 1698-1700 Halley was commissioned as a naval captain and he actually commanded a Royal Navy man-of-war, the Paramour, making two prolonged and eventful ocean voyages.

• After that he pubblished the first magnetic charts of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean

Continuing his pioneering work in observational astronomy, Halley published in 1705 A Synopsis of the Astronomy of Comets, in which he described the parabolic orbits of 24 comets that had been observed from 1337 to 1698. He showed that the three historic comets of 1531, 1607, and 1682 were so similar in characteristics that they must have been successive returns of the same visitant—now known as Halley’s Comet—and accurately predicted its return in 1758.

• Continuing his pioneering work in observational astronomy, Halley published in 1705 A Synopsis of the Astronomy of Comets, in which he described the parabolic orbits of 24 comets that had been observed from 1337 to 1698. He showed that the three historic comets of 1531, 1607, and 1682 were so similar in characteristics that they must have been successive returns of the same visitant—now known as Halley’s Comet—and accurately predicted its return in 1758.

Halley predicted with considerable accuracy the path of totality of the solar eclipse visible over England in 1715. After a long and careful study he was the first to realise in 1693 that the Moon's mean motion had a secular acceleration. An apparent gradual acceleration of the Moon's motion in its orbit, as measured relative to mean solar time. He was the first to predict extraterrestrial nature of the precursors of meteors.

• Halley predicted with considerable accuracy the path of totality of the solar eclipse visible over England in 1715. After a long and careful study he was the first to realise in 1693 that the Moon's mean motion had a secular acceleration. An apparent gradual acceleration of the Moon's motion in its orbit, as measured relative to mean solar time. He was the first to predict extraterrestrial nature of the precursors of meteors.

He was the first to suggest that observations of transits of Venus could be used to measure the distance of the Sun.

• He was the first to suggest that observations of transits of Venus could be used to measure the distance of the Sun.

Relation between proper motion and velocity components of an object. At emission, the object was at distance d from the Sun, and moved at angular rate μ radians/s, that is, μ = vt / d with vt = velocity transverse to line of sight from the Sun. (The diagram illustrates an angle μ swept out in unit time at tangential velocity vt.)

• Relation between proper motion and velocity components of an object. At emission, the object was at distance d from the Sun, and moved at angular rate μ radians/s, that is, μ = vt / d with vt = velocity transverse to line of sight from the Sun. (The diagram illustrates an angle μ swept out in unit time at tangential velocity vt.)

Halley succeeded John Flamsteed in 1720 as Astronomer Royal, a position Halley held until his death in 1742 at the age of 85. Halley was buried in the graveyard of the old church of St. Margaret (now ruined).

• Halley succeeded John Flamsteed in 1720 as Astronomer Royal, a position Halley held until his death in 1742 at the age of 85. Halley was buried in the graveyard of the old church of St. Margaret (now ruined).