He contributed extensively to the periodical literature of astronomy, and was twice, in 1823 and 1830, the recipient of the Royal Astronomical Society's gold medal.
In 1921 he was awarded the gold medal of the Society of Arts, London.
What is not up for debate, however, is the fact that well before his writings gained international popularity, Kafka received a gold medal from the American Safety Society due to his help in promoting workplace safety.
Medals were authorized by Congress, and in the following year Dr Kane received the founder's medal of the Royal Geographical Society, and, two years later, a gold medal from the Paris Geographical Society.
He was the author of over 70 papers on mechanics and physics published in the transactions of learned societies, notably Sub-Mechanics of the Universe, issued by the Royal Society, whose gold medal he won in 1888.
