LANCASHIRE'S GALILEO

A campaign is underway to honour a scientific genius with statues in Liverpool and Much Hoole, as Martin Pilkington reports

- Martin Pilkington

Lancastrian science prodigy Jeremiah Horrocks, who died in 1641 aged just 22 (or 23, his year of birth uncertain), left a legacy of enormous importance in astronomy and physics. Now a campaign is underway to commemorate his achievements with one, or possibly two statues to be located in the county, and through teaching.

Phil Williams, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, member of Liverpool Astronomical Society and a STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] Ambassador working in schools is one of those supporting the efforts. ‘A statue recognises the significant impact his work has had in the field of astronomy and would raise public awareness of his contribution to science, which is sadly lacking,’ he says.

‘The campaign also aims to appropriate Horrocks into the syllabus of local schools and promote him as a role model for future scientists.’

The wish to mark Jeremiah’s genius is not new. Gerard Gilligan, Chairman of the Society for the History of Astronomy says: ‘I found a reference to something similar going back to 1890. The Victorians idolised him as a local hero, but though he’s had plaques put up and roads and other things named in his memory, there’s been nothing on this scale.’