Cassini (lived 17th–18th century)

Italian family of astronomers and geographers, of whom four generations had charge of the Paris Observatory. Giovanni Domenico Cassini (1625–1712) was director from 1669. Jacques Cassini (1677–1756), the son of Giovanni Domenico, succeeded his father in 1712. The other members of the family were César Cassini (1714–1784), the son of Jacques; and Jacques Dominique, comte de Cassini (1748–1845), the son of César. The last was also a mathematician and geographer, who took an active part in the division of France into départements, and completed his father's map of the country. Owing to difficulties with the authorities he gave up astronomy in 1794 and lived in retirement.