Henry C. King

Henry C. King (9 March 1915 – 30 July 2005) was a British astronomer and writer. Born in London, he later moved with his family to Marlow, Buckinghamshire. King attended the Sir William Borlase School and developed a passion for astronomy at a young age. He received a copy of The Story of The Heavens by Robert S Ball for his thirteenth birthday, which further fueled his interest in the field. King obtained a B.Sc. in astronomy and mathematics through correspondence from the University of London, followed by an MSc and Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of science. During World War II, he served as Inspector of Aeronautical Instruments for the Ministry of Aircraft Production. In the 1950s, King worked as a Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmic Optics at Northampton College of Advanced Technology. He later became the first Scientific Director of the London Planetarium.