Edmond Halley FRS ( 8 November 1656 â `` 14 January 1742 ) was an English astronomer , the second Astronomer Royal . Edmond Halley FRS ( 8 November 1656 â `` 14 January 1742 ) was an English astronomer , geophysicist , mathematician , meteorologist , and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley 's comet . He was the second Astronomer Royal in Britain , following in the footsteps of John Flamsteed .