Charles Messier

Charles Messier (French: [ʃaʁl me.sje]; 26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817) was a French astronomer. He published an astronomical catalogue consisting of 110 nebulae and star clusters, which came to be known as the Messier objects, referred to with the letter M and their number between 1 and 110. Messier's purpose for the catalogue was to help astronomical observers distinguish between permanent and transient visually diffuse objects in the sky.

Notable works: Messier object, Lexell's Comet Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour

Source: Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Messier