1-152-593 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

UJJ Leverrier, French astronomer calculating the position of the planet Neptune in 1846 (1881). Urbain Jean Joseph Leverrier's (1811-1877) calculations were confirmed shortly afterwards by JG Galle at Berlin. The British astronomer John Couch Adams had independently made the same prediction as Leverrier, but had not published his findings. After some controversy, Adams was given joint credit with Leverrier for the planet's discovery. Leverrier became director of the Paris Observatory in 1854.