Edmond Halley, Geophysicist

Abstract

The recent passage of Comet Halley produced a great deal of scientific activity as well as the usual plethora of books, articles and diverse paraphernalia. So why add more? My excuse is that although Edmond Halley is famous for his comet—and rightly so—his contributions to scientific knowledge were much wider than is generally appreciated. Indeed, cometary matters represent a very small fraction of his work. Even if he had made none of his astronomical and other contributions, however, Halley would have left us an important legacy as one of the world's first geophysicists.