Francesco Denza
Encyclopedia
Francesco Denza was an Italian meteorologist and astronomer.
He joined the Barnabites
at the age of sixteen, and during his theological course at Rome studied at the same time meteorology and astronomy under Father Angelo Secchi
. From 1856 until 1890 he was attached to the Barnabite college at Moncalieri
where he became widely known for his work in meteorology, a science which he advanced not merely by his personal observations and studies but also by the interest which he roused in it throughout Italy. In 1859 Denza founded the Bullettino mensile di Meteorolgia (Monthly Bulletin of Meteorology), which was continued until 1894, and established a meteorological observatory at Moncalieri; it was largely through his influence that similar observatories, more than 200 in number, were gradually built in various parts of Italy. The success which attended his efforts gave him a national reputation, and in 1866 Senator Matteucci
and Signor Berti, minister of public instruction, urged him to take charge of the department of meteorology at Florence
. Denza did not accept the post, but in the following year, at Berti's invitation,he read a paper on meteors at the "Instituto Superiore" in Florence.
In 1872 he began a series of researches on terrestrial magnetism with special reference to magnetic declination
, which illness, however, prevented him from completing. In 1883 the Duke of Aosta
invited him to take charge of the scientific education of his three sons. In the same year he was director of the literary and scientific section of the National Exposition at Turin
and chairman of its jury of awards. He represented Leo XIII in 1884 at the Congress of Scientific Societies of France, presiding over the meteorological section. He visited England and Holland on this occasion. He likewise represented the pope at the Paris astronomical congress of 1887, when the plan was formulated of making a photographic map of all the stars in the heavens down to the fourteenth magnitude; through his influence the Vatican Observatory
was one of the eighteen chosen to carry out this important project. Denza was appointed director of the Vatican Observatory in September, 1890, and thenceforth lived at the Vatican. Here he inaugurated the work of this observatory in stellar photography. At the time of his death, which was due to apoplexy
, he was President of the Accademia dei Nuovi Lincei
.
He joined the Barnabites
Barnabites
The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic order.-Establishment of the Order :It was founded in 1530 by three Italian noblemen: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Latin: Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli, abbr. B.) is a Roman Catholic...
at the age of sixteen, and during his theological course at Rome studied at the same time meteorology and astronomy under Father Angelo Secchi
Angelo Secchi
-External links:...
. From 1856 until 1890 he was attached to the Barnabite college at Moncalieri
Moncalieri
Moncalieri is a town and comune of approximately 58,000 inhabitants about eight kilometers directly south of downtown Turin , in Piedmont, Italy. It is notable for its castle, built in the 12th century and enlarged in the 15th century, which later became the favorite residence of Maria Clotilde...
where he became widely known for his work in meteorology, a science which he advanced not merely by his personal observations and studies but also by the interest which he roused in it throughout Italy. In 1859 Denza founded the Bullettino mensile di Meteorolgia (Monthly Bulletin of Meteorology), which was continued until 1894, and established a meteorological observatory at Moncalieri; it was largely through his influence that similar observatories, more than 200 in number, were gradually built in various parts of Italy. The success which attended his efforts gave him a national reputation, and in 1866 Senator Matteucci
Carlo Matteucci
Carlo Matteucci was an Italian physicist and neurophysiologist who was a pioneer in the study of bioelectricity.-Biography:...
and Signor Berti, minister of public instruction, urged him to take charge of the department of meteorology at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. Denza did not accept the post, but in the following year, at Berti's invitation,he read a paper on meteors at the "Instituto Superiore" in Florence.
In 1872 he began a series of researches on terrestrial magnetism with special reference to magnetic declination
Magnetic declination
Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north and true north. The declination is positive when the magnetic north is east of true north. The term magnetic variation is a synonym, and is more often used in navigation...
, which illness, however, prevented him from completing. In 1883 the Duke of Aosta
Duke of Aosta
In the mid-13th century the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy; its arms were carried in the Savoyard coat-of-arms until the unification of Italy in 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exception of a French occupation, 1539—1563...
invited him to take charge of the scientific education of his three sons. In the same year he was director of the literary and scientific section of the National Exposition at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and chairman of its jury of awards. He represented Leo XIII in 1884 at the Congress of Scientific Societies of France, presiding over the meteorological section. He visited England and Holland on this occasion. He likewise represented the pope at the Paris astronomical congress of 1887, when the plan was formulated of making a photographic map of all the stars in the heavens down to the fourteenth magnitude; through his influence the Vatican Observatory
Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in Rome, it now has headquarters and laboratory at the summer residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and an observatory at the Mount Graham International...
was one of the eighteen chosen to carry out this important project. Denza was appointed director of the Vatican Observatory in September, 1890, and thenceforth lived at the Vatican. Here he inaugurated the work of this observatory in stellar photography. At the time of his death, which was due to apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
, he was President of the Accademia dei Nuovi Lincei
Accademia dei Lincei
The Accademia dei Lincei, , is an Italian science academy, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Rome, Italy....
.
Published works
- Meteore cosmiche in Scienza di populo (Milan, 1869);
- Stelle cadente del periodo di Agosto 1868 (ibid.);
- Le aurore pol. d. 1869 ed i fonom. cosmiche che accompagnarono (1869);
- Distribuzione di pioggia in Italia (1871–72);
- Valeurs de l'électricité et l'ozone à Moncalieri à l'époque du choléra in Comptes Rendus (1868) LXVI;
- Le armonie dei cieli, Nozioni di astron. (1881);
- Amplitudes d'oscillations diurn. magnet. à Moncalieri 1880–81;
- Osserv. di declin. magnet. ad Aosta, Moncalieri e Firenze in occas. d'eclisse sol 26/5 1873 in Proc. Acc. dei Nuov. Lincei.