Gaspar Schott
Encyclopedia
Gaspar Schott was a German
Jesuit and scientist
, specializing in the fields of physics
, mathematics
and natural philosophy
, and known for his piety
.
and died at Augsburg
(or Würzburg
, sources vary). In 1627 Schott entered the Society of Jesus
. He studied first at the University of Würzburg
but due to the Thirty Years' War
he left the Holy Roman Empire
, eventually finishing his studies at the University of Palermo
. He studied under Athanasius Kircher
, who was his mentor for many years. Around 1638 he returned to his native Augsburg, where he would live the remainder of his years. He corresponded with many researchers and inventors, like Otto von Guericke
, Christiaan Huygens and Robert Boyle
.
Schott was the author of numerous works from the fields of mathematics, physics, and magic. However, those works were mostly a compilations of reports, articles or books he read and his own repeated experiments; he has done little, if any, original research.
Schott is most widely known for his works on hydraulic and mechanical instruments. His treatise on "chronometric marvels" is the first work describing a universal joint
and providing the classification of gear teeth.
Among his most famous works is the book Magia universalis naturæ et artis (4 vols., Würtzburg, 1657–1659), filled with many mathematical problems and physical experiments, mostly from the areas of optics
and acoustics
. His Mechanicahydraulica-pneumatica (Würtzburg, 1657) contains the first description of von Guericke's air pump
. He also published Pantometricum Kircherianum (Würtzburg, 1660); Physica curiosa (Würtzburg, 1662), a supplement to the Magia universalis; Anatomia physico-hydrostatica fontium et fluminum (Würtzburg, 1663), and several editions of a Cursus mathematicus. He was also the editor of the Itinerarium extacticum of Athanasius Kircher
and the Amussis Ferdidindea of Albert Curtz
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Jesuit and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, specializing in the fields of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and natural philosophy
Natural philosophy
Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature , is a term applied to the study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science...
, and known for his piety
Piety
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that can mean religious devotion, spirituality, or a combination of both. A common element in most conceptions of piety is humility.- Etymology :...
.
Biography
He was born at KönigshofenKönigshofen
Königshofen may refer to:*Bad Königshofen , a town in Bavaria, Germany*Lauda-Königshofen, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany...
and died at Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
(or Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, sources vary). In 1627 Schott entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. He studied first at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
but due to the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
he left the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, eventually finishing his studies at the University of Palermo
University of Palermo
The University of Palermo is a university located in Palermo, Italy, and founded in 1806. It is organized in 12 Faculties.-History:The University of Palermo was officially founded in 1806, although its earliest roots date back to 1498 when medicine and law were taught there...
. He studied under Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine...
, who was his mentor for many years. Around 1638 he returned to his native Augsburg, where he would live the remainder of his years. He corresponded with many researchers and inventors, like Otto von Guericke
Otto von Guericke
Otto von Guericke was a German scientist, inventor, and politician...
, Christiaan Huygens and Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
.
Works
Schott is most widely known for his works on hydraulic and mechanical instruments. His treatise on "chronometric marvels" is the first work describing a universal joint
Universal joint
A universal joint, universal coupling, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion...
and providing the classification of gear teeth.
Among his most famous works is the book Magia universalis naturæ et artis (4 vols., Würtzburg, 1657–1659), filled with many mathematical problems and physical experiments, mostly from the areas of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
. His Mechanicahydraulica-pneumatica (Würtzburg, 1657) contains the first description of von Guericke's air pump
Air pump
An air pump is a device for pushing air. Examples include a bicycle pump, pumps that are used to aerate an aquarium or a pond via an airstone; a gas compressor used to power a pneumatic tool, air horn or pipe organ; a bellows used to encourage a fire; and a vacuum pump.The first effective air pump...
. He also published Pantometricum Kircherianum (Würtzburg, 1660); Physica curiosa (Würtzburg, 1662), a supplement to the Magia universalis; Anatomia physico-hydrostatica fontium et fluminum (Würtzburg, 1663), and several editions of a Cursus mathematicus. He was also the editor of the Itinerarium extacticum of Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine...
and the Amussis Ferdidindea of Albert Curtz
Albert Curtz
Albert Curtz , aka Curtius, was a German astronomer and member of the Society of Jesus. He expanded on the works of Tycho Brahe and used the pseudonym of Lucius Barrettus....
.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- Data from Galileo Project
- Biography in German
- Schott's Mechanica hydraulico-pneumatica. Pars I, 1657
- Kircher/Schott: Athanasii Kircheri iter extaticum coeleste, 1660
- Kircher/Schott: Pantometrum Kircherianum, hoc est, instrumentum geometricum novem, 1660
- Physica Curiosa., 1607