About Philip Herbert Cowell
Lived 1870 – 1949 (aged 78). Philip Herbert Cowell was a British astronomer.
+ Minor planets discovered: 1 He became second chief assistant at the Royal Greenwich Observatory in 1896 and later became the Superintendent of HM Nautical Almanac Office between 1910 and 1930. He worked on celestial mechanics, and orbits of comets and minor planets in particular. He also carefully studied the discrepancy that then existed between the theory and observation of the position of the Moon.
Cowell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society on 14 February 1896. On 27 October 1897 he was elected a member of the British Astronomical Association. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 May 1906.
He died in Aldeburgh, Suffolk on 6 June 1949. The main-belt asteroid 1898 Cowell is named after him.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Philip Herbert Cowell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Philip Herbert Cowell?
British astronomer (1870–1949)
When was Philip Herbert Cowell born?
Philip Herbert Cowell was born on 7 August 1870 in Kolkata.
When did Philip Herbert Cowell die?
Philip Herbert Cowell died on 6 June 1949 in Aldeburgh.
What was Philip Herbert Cowell's occupation?
Philip Herbert Cowell was an astronomer.
What nationality was Philip Herbert Cowell?
Philip Herbert Cowell was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Philip Herbert Cowell
· DBpedia: Philip Herbert Cowell
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Philip Herbert Cowell. https://biography.guide/philip-herbert-cowell/
MLA: "Philip Herbert Cowell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/philip-herbert-cowell/.
Chicago: "Philip Herbert Cowell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/philip-herbert-cowell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:25 UTC