Nicolas Louis de Lacaille

Lacaille made a huge contribution to mapping the southern-hemisphere stars, proposing constellations with suitably ‘enlightenment’ names. Cassini was a mentor, offering the young Lacaille work, lodging and friendship (he went on to improve some of Cassini’s results). Lalande was a close friend as well as colleague, Clairaut a close colleague, Boscovich a friend. Euler, Mayer and La Condamine were all correspondents of Lacaille’s, and Lavoisier one of his students.