Frederick William Herschel was born on the 15th of November 1738. Like
his father, he displayed an innate musical ability, which was sedulously
cultivated and constantly developed; while his general mental training
was left to the care of the master of the garrison-school. Those who are
gifted with a love and a capacity for music sometimes show to little
advantage in other pursuits; but such was not the case with William
Herschel, who progressed so rapidly in all his studies that the pupil
soon outstripped the teacher. Although, we are told, four years younger
than his brother Jacob, the two began French together, and William
mastered the language in half the time occupied by his senior. His
leisure time out of school, when not given up to practice on the oboe
and the violin, was devoted to the acquisition, of Latin and arithmetic.

His father in 1743 was present at the battle of Dettingen; and the
exposure consequent on a night spent on the rain-soaked battle-field
afflicted him with an asthmatic complaint and a partial paralysis of
the limbs, which darkened for years the musician's peaceful household.
He himself, however, was greatly cheered by the musical proficiency of
his two sons, and the intellectual refinement of Frederick William. "My
brothers," says Caroline Herschel, "were often introduced as solo
performers and assistants in the orchestra of the court; and I remember
that I was frequently prevented"--she was then a child about five years
old--"from going to sleep by the lively criticism on music on [their]
coming from a concert, or conversations on philosophical subjects, which
lasted frequently till morning, in which my father was a lively
partaker, and assistant of my brother William by contriving self-made
instruments." She adds that she often kept herself awake in order to
listen to their animating remarks, feeling inexpressibly happy in
_their_ happiness,--an indication of that devoted and unselfish
affection which afterwards consecrated her whole life. But, generally,