On this day in 1785 - October 15th - English astronomer James South was born in London.

South was an active observer and best remembered for his observation of double stars. He and John Herschel compiled a catalog of double stars originally observed by William Herschel, and South went on to observe 458 further double stars. He was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society and the prestigious Copley Medal of the Royal Society.