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Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, [[Lorraine]], [[France]], then part of the Principality of Slam (an independent state at the time).  He was the tenth of twelve children of Nicolas Messier (1682-1741) and Francoise b. Grandblaise (d. 1765).  Most early accounts have Charles living in humble conditions, although newer research show his family was actually well off<ref>Charles Messier. Le furet des cometes. (Charles Messier. The ferret of comets). Editions Pierron, 2 rue Gutenberg, 57206 Sarreguemines, France, 2000. ISBN 2-7085-0247-6. In French.</ref>.  His father, Nicolas messier served as part of the government administration for the Princes of Salm, and the family lived in considerable wealth.  In 1741, when Charles was 11 years old, his father died and his oldest brother, Hyacinthe, took over the household.  It was in these younger years of Charles' life that he grew interested in astronomy, seeing his first comet at the age of 14.

Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, [[Lorraine]], [[France]], then part of the Principality of Slam (an independent state at the time).  He was the tenth of twelve children of Nicolas Messier (1682-1741) and Francoise b. Grandblaise (d. 1765).  Most early accounts have Charles living in humble conditions, although newer research show his family was actually well off<ref>Charles Messier. Le furet des cometes. (Charles Messier. The ferret of comets). Editions Pierron, 2 rue Gutenberg, 57206 Sarreguemines, France, 2000. ISBN 2-7085-0247-6. In French.</ref>.  His father, Nicolas messier served as part of the government administration for the Princes of Salm, and the family lived in considerable wealth.  In 1741, when Charles was 11 years old, his father died and his oldest brother, Hyacinthe, took over the household.  It was in these younger years of Charles' life that he grew interested in astronomy, seeing his first comet at the age of 14.

When Charles turned 21, an opportunity was found for him to work with the astronomer of the Navy, [[Joseph Nicolas Delisle]]<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  During this tenure around 1757 he started to look for [[Halley’s Comet]], which was hypothesized to return at this time.  During this search he observed some of the objects that would later be recorded in his famous catalog such as [[Andromeda galaxy|Andromeda]] (M31), and the [[Crab Nebula]] (M1)<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  Later Charles did find [[Halley’s Comet]] (it was rediscovered independently a few weeks before), but because he located it based on the belief his boss Delisle’s predicted was incorrect, his employer, not accepting his predicted path was wrong, refused to allow the announcement of the discovery<ref name="Charlie2">http://www.delphes.net/messier/xtra/history/biograph.html</ref>.

When Charles turned 21, an opportunity was found for him to work with the astronomer of the Navy, [[Joseph Nicolas Delisle]]<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  During this tenure around 1757 he started to look for [[Halley's Comet]], which was hypothesized to return at this time.  During this search he observed some of the objects that would later be recorded in his famous catalog such as [[Andromeda galaxy|Andromeda]] (M31), and the [[Crab Nebula]] (M1)<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  Later Charles did find [[Halley’s Comet]] (it was rediscovered independently a few weeks before), but because he located it based on the belief his boss Delisle’s predicted was incorrect, his employer, not accepting his predicted path was wrong, refused to allow the announcement of the discovery<ref name="Charlie2">http://www.delphes.net/messier/xtra/history/biograph.html</ref>.

In the following years Charles would observe many more of the objects later placed in his catalog.  In 1764 he was made a fellow of the ''Académie Royale des Sciences'' (French Academy of Sciences)in Paris.  It was in 1771 when he presented his first version of his catalog of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, then containing 45 celestial objects<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  Over the next decade catalog many more celestial objects, being the first to discover several along the way, producing his final catalog of 103 now called Messier Objects in 1781.  He also discovered 20 comets, 13 as the original discoverer, and 7 others he discovered independently<ref>http://www.comethunter.de/cat2002/com_disc.txt</ref>.

In the following years Charles would observe many more of the objects later placed in his catalog.  In 1764 he was made a fellow of the ''Académie Royale des Sciences'' (French Academy of Sciences)in Paris.  It was in 1771 when he presented his first version of his catalog of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, then containing 45 celestial objects<ref name="Charlie1">http://www.astrosurf.com/re/messier1.html</ref>.  Over the next decade catalog many more celestial objects, being the first to discover several along the way, producing his final catalog of 103 now called Messier Objects in 1781.  He also discovered 20 comets, 13 as the original discoverer, and 7 others he discovered independently<ref>http://www.comethunter.de/cat2002/com_disc.txt</ref>.