Wilhelm von Biela

Wilhelm von Biela (March 19 1782 – February 18 1856) was an Austrian military officer and amateur astronomer. Sometimes referred to by his title, as Wilhelm, Baron von Biela or Wilhelm, Freiherr von Biela.

He was a captain in the Austrian army and participated in a number of military campaigns against Napoleon between 1805 and 1809.

In the field of astronomy, he specialized in observing and calculating the orbits of comets. He also did some sunspot observations. He independently discovered some comets that others had already found, and made one independent discovery of his own: the lost periodic comet 3D/Biela.