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Jean Sylvain Bailly
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Jean Sylvain Bailly
JEAN SYLVAIN BAILLY French astronomer who computed the orbit for Halleys Comet, and first Mayor of Paris in 1789 Date: 1736 - 1793
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Media ID 14279991
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1736 1789 1793 Astronomer Bailly Bowing Comet Cornered Frilly Halley Mayor Orbit Shirt Sylvain Computed
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print depicts Jean Sylvain Bailly (1736-1793), a renowned French astronomer and the first Mayor of Paris during the French Revolution. Bailly is best known for his groundbreaking work in computing the orbit of Halley's Comet, a prediction that was confirmed when the comet reappeared in 1758, eighty years after its previous sighting. Bailly's astronomical achievements were not limited to Halley's Comet. He also made significant contributions to the study of the Moon and the planets, and was a member of the prestigious French Academy of Sciences. However, his political career overshadowed his scientific accomplishments when he was elected the first Mayor of Paris in 1789. In this image, Bailly is depicted wearing a cornered hat and a frilly shirt, with a bow in his hand. The cornered hat was a symbol of the Estates-General, the legislative body that convened in May 1789 to address the financial crisis in France. Bailly's election as Mayor of Paris marked the beginning of the French Revolution, and he played a crucial role in organizing the National Guard and maintaining order in the chaotic early days of the Revolution. Despite his political success, Bailly remained dedicated to science and continued to conduct astronomical observations whenever he could. Tragically, he was guillotined during the Reign of Terror in 1793, a victim of the political turmoil that engulfed France during this period. This print serves as a poignant reminder of Bailly's significant contributions to both astronomy and politics in 18th-century France.
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