Darwin Correspondence Project

Belgian astronomer. Brother of the politician Auguste Houzeau de Lehaie. Studied at Brussels University, and at the Faculté des sciences, Paris, 1840–1. Assistant astronomer, Observatoire royal, 1846–9. Director of astronomy in the mapping of Belgium, 1854–7. In Texas and elsewhere, 1857–67, Jamaica, 1867–76, as a land-surveyor and journalist. Won the quinquennial prize of the Académie Belge for his work on astronomy in Jamaica. Head of the Observatoire royal from 1876 until his retirement.