Michael van Langren
Encyclopedia
Michael Florent van Langren (bapt. 27 April 1598 Amsterdam
– May 1675 Brussels
) was a Dutch
astronomer
and cartographer. His Latinized name is Langrenus.
but moved to the Southern Netherlands and later to Amsterdam
, where his sons Arnoldus and Henricus were born. Unusually, each member of the family retained the second name Floris rather than a patronym. Jacob and his sons produced globes from 1580, both terrestrial and celestial. A 1586 pair survives, the celestial globe based on astronomical data provided by Rudolf Snellius father of Willebrord Snellius
, while Petrus Plancius
collaborated on the 1589 edition. In 1592, the States General
granted the Van Langren family a monopoly in the production of globes, which led to quarrels with Jodocus Hondius
.
Arnold and Henricus produced maps as well. Their world maps of the mid 1590s usually were drawn after maps by Plancius or Ortelius, but sometimes contained novelties based on recent discoveries (e.g. Nova Zembla
as an island, Korea
as a peninsula).
Arnold moved with his family, which included his sons Jacob and Michael, from Amsterdam to Antwerp around the year 1609. He got the title of "Sphérographe de leurs Altesses" and was awarded a grant of 300 livres towards the expense of his move.
Michael van Langren did not receive a university education. He became a cartographer and engineer
. He would serve as the Royal Cosmographer and Mathematician to King Philip IV of Spain
, and was helped in his work by the patronage of the
Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain
.
. To show the magnitude of the problem, he created the first (known) graph
of statistical data, showing the wide range of estimates of the distance in longitude between Toledo
and Rome
. He believed he could improve the accuracy of longitude determination, particularly at sea, by observing peaks and craters of the Moon
as they appear and disappear, not only during eclipses of the Moon but also in the course of the entire lunation.
This led him to make a map of the Moon (1645), and he planned to produce maps of the Moon at thirty different phase
s, but never realized this plan. He was the first to assign names to various lunar features, but few of these names were widely accepted as they were closely linked to the Spanish royal court.
He also observed the comet
of 1652 and his observations were published. He made various maps of the Spanish Netherlands
, and produced plans for a port near Dunkirk, improvements to the port of Ostend
, efforts to clear the canals of Antwerp, flood control concepts, and fortifications.
The crater Langrenus
on the Moon
is named after him - this is one of the few names given by Van Langren still in use!
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
– May 1675 Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
) was a Dutch
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and cartographer. His Latinized name is Langrenus.
Family
Michael van Langren was the youngest member of a family of Dutch cartographers. His grandfather, Jacob Floris van Langren was born in GelderlandGelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
but moved to the Southern Netherlands and later to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, where his sons Arnoldus and Henricus were born. Unusually, each member of the family retained the second name Floris rather than a patronym. Jacob and his sons produced globes from 1580, both terrestrial and celestial. A 1586 pair survives, the celestial globe based on astronomical data provided by Rudolf Snellius father of Willebrord Snellius
Willebrord Snellius
Willebrord Snellius was a Dutch astronomer and mathematician. In the west, especially the English speaking countries, his name has been attached to the law of refraction of light for several centuries, but it is now known that this law was first discovered by Ibn Sahl in 984...
, while Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. He was born as Pieter Platevoet in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders. He studied theology in Germany and England...
collaborated on the 1589 edition. In 1592, the States General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
granted the Van Langren family a monopoly in the production of globes, which led to quarrels with Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius , sometimes called Jodocus Hondius the Elder to distinguish him from his son Henricus Hondius II, was a Flemish artist, engraver, and cartographer...
.
Arnold and Henricus produced maps as well. Their world maps of the mid 1590s usually were drawn after maps by Plancius or Ortelius, but sometimes contained novelties based on recent discoveries (e.g. Nova Zembla
Nova Zembla
Nova Zembla may refer to:* Nova Zembla Island, Nunavut, Canada* Nova Zembla , a 2011 Dutch film* Nova Zembla , a Belgian electronic music label-See also:...
as an island, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
as a peninsula).
Arnold moved with his family, which included his sons Jacob and Michael, from Amsterdam to Antwerp around the year 1609. He got the title of "Sphérographe de leurs Altesses" and was awarded a grant of 300 livres towards the expense of his move.
Michael van Langren did not receive a university education. He became a cartographer and engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He would serve as the Royal Cosmographer and Mathematician to King Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
, and was helped in his work by the patronage of the
Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain
Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain
Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia...
.
Contributions
Among his contributions were attempts to determine longitudeLongitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
. To show the magnitude of the problem, he created the first (known) graph
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
of statistical data, showing the wide range of estimates of the distance in longitude between Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He believed he could improve the accuracy of longitude determination, particularly at sea, by observing peaks and craters of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
as they appear and disappear, not only during eclipses of the Moon but also in the course of the entire lunation.
This led him to make a map of the Moon (1645), and he planned to produce maps of the Moon at thirty different phase
Lunar phase
A lunar phase or phase of the moon is the appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth. The lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun...
s, but never realized this plan. He was the first to assign names to various lunar features, but few of these names were widely accepted as they were closely linked to the Spanish royal court.
He also observed the comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
of 1652 and his observations were published. He made various maps of the Spanish Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
, and produced plans for a port near Dunkirk, improvements to the port of Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, efforts to clear the canals of Antwerp, flood control concepts, and fortifications.
The crater Langrenus
Langrenus (crater)
Langrenus is a prominent impact crater located near the eastern lunar limb. The feature is circular in shape, but appears oblong due to foreshortening. It lies on the eastern shore of the Mare Fecunditatis...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him - this is one of the few names given by Van Langren still in use!
External links
Source
- Johannes Keuning, The Van Langren Family. Imago Mundi 13 (1956) 101-109.
- Peter van der Krogt, Globi Neerlandici: The production of globes in the Netherlands (Utrecht, 1993), par. 3.2 Jacob Floris van Langren and his sons, and par. 7.3 Arnold Floris van Langren and his son Michael in Brussels.
- O. Van de Vyver S.J., Lunar Maps of the XVIIth Century. Vatican Observatory Publications 1, 2 (Vatican City, 1971).
See also
- SelenographySelenographySelenography is the study of the surface and physical features of the Moon. Historically, the principal concern of selenographists was the mapping and naming of the lunar maria, craters, mountain ranges, and other various features...