Heinrich Christian, a Danish astronomer of distinction, was born at Brunsbüttel in Holstein, on the 3d of September 1780. Having early distinguished himself in mathematics and astronomy, he was chosen, at the age of thirty, professor extraordinary of astronomy at the University of Copenhagen. Called to the University of Mannheim in 1818, he returned two years later to Copenhagen, where he was appointed professor of astronomy and director of the university. He was employed by the Danish government in 1817 on the mathematical survey then in progress through their dominions, and received the superintendence, from the Royal Scientific Society of Copenhagen, of the survey and mapping of Holstein and Launenburg. In 1824 he was engaged on fixing the measure of differences between the observatories of Greenwich and Altona. The king had, in 1821, built for Schumacher a very convenient observatory at Altona, where he resided till his death in December 28, 1850. He had commenced the publication in 1813 of the Astronomische Nachrichten, a journal which still exists, and which embraces the astronomical facts and discoveries of the whole world. A good example of his patience and correctness as an astronomer will be found in his Astronomische Hülfsfahle, issued during the nine years previous to 1829. From 1836 he aided Bessel in editing the Astronomischen Jahrbuchs. Schumacher was a man who united genius with modesty, and liberality with courtesy. He was easy of access, and he never ceased to aid by his advice all who sought access to him to ask his counsel.