Johann Gustav Hermes
Encyclopedia
Johann Gustav Hermes was a German
mathematician
.
and was educated at the Kneiphöfischen Gymnasium
. He undertook his Abitur (final examination) at the school in 1866. After completing his secondary education, he studied mathematics
from 1866 to 1870, mostly in Königsberg
. His studies were interrupted due to his participation in the Franco-Prussian War
between 1870–1871, but he was able to complete his studies on December 14, 1872 with a professional degree in mathematics. He received a doctorate
on April 5, 1879 for his dissertation
on the "Reduction of the problem of cyclotomy on linear equations (for prime numbers of the form 2m+1)" (German: "Zurückführung des Problems der Kreistheilung auf lineare Gleichungen (für Primzahlen von der Form 2m+1)").
After a probationary year at the Chernyakhovsk
Realgymnasium in 1873, Hermes worked as a teacher at the Progymnasium of the Royal Orphanage of Königsberg in Prussia (German: Königliches Waisenhaus zu Königsberg in Preußen). Beginning in 1883 he was an Oberlehrer (or upper teacher). In 1893 he became a professor at the Georgianum Gymnasium in Lingen
. Finally, on April 1, 1899, he became a professor and director at the Osnabrück
Realgymnasium (now named the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium). On December 31, 1906 he asked for an early retirement from his position due to illness. Hermes died in Bad Oeynhausen
on June 8, 1912. He was buried in Osnabrück on June 12.
exclusively with a compass and a straightedge. His manuscript, with over 200 pages, is today located at the Georg-August University of Göttingen
.
In his maiden speech as the director at the Osnabrück Realgymnasium on April 11, 1899, he praised the concept of duty
of the influential philosopher
Immanuel Kant
, who was also a resident of Königsberg. He finished with the words "Geduld ist die Pforte der Freude." ("Patience is the gate to joy.")
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....
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
.
Life
Hermes was born in KönigsbergKönigsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
and was educated at the Kneiphöfischen Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. He undertook his Abitur (final examination) at the school in 1866. After completing his secondary education, he studied 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...
from 1866 to 1870, mostly in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
. His studies were interrupted due to his participation in the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
between 1870–1871, but he was able to complete his studies on December 14, 1872 with a professional degree in mathematics. He received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
on April 5, 1879 for his dissertation
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on the "Reduction of the problem of cyclotomy on linear equations (for prime numbers of the form 2m+1)" (German: "Zurückführung des Problems der Kreistheilung auf lineare Gleichungen (für Primzahlen von der Form 2m+1)").
After a probationary year at the Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk is a town and the administrative center of Chernyakhovsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Instruch and the Angrapa Rivers, forming the Pregolya...
Realgymnasium in 1873, Hermes worked as a teacher at the Progymnasium of the Royal Orphanage of Königsberg in Prussia (German: Königliches Waisenhaus zu Königsberg in Preußen). Beginning in 1883 he was an Oberlehrer (or upper teacher). In 1893 he became a professor at the Georgianum Gymnasium in Lingen
Lingen
Lingen is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. In 2008 the population was 52,353, and in addition there are about 5,000 people who have registered the city as their secondary residence...
. Finally, on April 1, 1899, he became a professor and director at the Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
Realgymnasium (now named the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Gymnasium). On December 31, 1906 he asked for an early retirement from his position due to illness. Hermes died in Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
on June 8, 1912. He was buried in Osnabrück on June 12.
Special achievements
In 1894, Hermes completed his decade-long effort to find and write down a procedure for the construction of the regular 65537-gonConstructible polygon
In mathematics, a constructible polygon is a regular polygon that can be constructed with compass and straightedge. For example, a regular pentagon is constructible with compass and straightedge while a regular heptagon is not....
exclusively with a compass and a straightedge. His manuscript, with over 200 pages, is today located at the Georg-August University of Göttingen
Georg-August University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen , known informally as Georgia Augusta, is a university in the city of Göttingen, Germany.Founded in 1734 by King George II of Great Britain and the Elector of Hanover, it opened for classes in 1737. The University of Göttingen soon grew in size and popularity...
.
In his maiden speech as the director at the Osnabrück Realgymnasium on April 11, 1899, he praised the concept of duty
Categorical imperative
The Categorical Imperative is the central philosophical concept in the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, as well as modern deontological ethics...
of the influential philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
, who was also a resident of Königsberg. He finished with the words "Geduld ist die Pforte der Freude." ("Patience is the gate to joy.")
External links
- Copy of Hermes' dissertation (German) (About the division of the circle into 65537 equal pieces)
- Other publications by Hermes