Jean-Baptiste Languet de Gergy
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Languet de Gergy (1674–1750) was parish priest at Eglise Saint-Sulpice in Paris
from 1714 to 1748. He was the initiator of the construction of the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice
. Languet de Gergy initially wished to establish the exact astrological time in order to ring the bells at the most appropriate time of day. For this, he commissioned the English clockmaker Henry Sully
to build the gnomon.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1714 to 1748. He was the initiator of the construction of the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice
Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice
The Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice is an astronomical measurement device located in the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France. It is a gnomon, a device designed to cast a shadow on the ground in order to determine the position of the sun in the sky...
. Languet de Gergy initially wished to establish the exact astrological time in order to ring the bells at the most appropriate time of day. For this, he commissioned the English clockmaker Henry Sully
Henry Sully
Henry Sully was an English clockmaker. He lived for many years in France.-Marine clock:He invented a marine clock to determine longitude accurately, a sophisticated pendulum clock. He presented a first Montre de la Mer in 1716 to the French Académie des Sciences. He was the first to develop...
to build the gnomon.