Goodricke, John

Also known as John Godric. Born in Groningen, Holland of English parents; deafened from a fever in 1769. Sent to the Braidwood Academy for the Deaf and Dumb in Edinburgh 1773-1778, then the Warrington Academy (a hearing school) in Cheshire, where he picked up an interest in astronomy. Began astronomical observations in York; particularly famous for his discovery of variable stars and his conjecture, only proven many years after his death from pneumonia at age 22, that the star Algol's variability was caused by its being an eclipsing binary. Posthumously awarded the prestigious Copley Medal for this discovery.