Edmond Halley — English Scientist born on October 29, 1656, died on January 14, 1742

Edmond Halley, FRS was an English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet. He was the second Astronomer Royal in Britain, succeeding John Flamsteed... (wikipedia)

Nearer the gods no mortal may approach.
This sight... is by far the noblest astronomy affords.
Scarce any problem will appear more hard and difficult, than that of determining the distance of the Sun from the Earth very near the truth: but even this... will without much labour be effected.