Theodore Augustine Mann
Encyclopedia
Theodore Augustine Mann (1735–1809) was an English
naturalist and historian, born in Yorkshire
on June 22, 1735.
. Here the study of Bossuet
's Discours sur l'histoire universelle exerted a profound influence upon him, and in 1756 he was received into the Catholic Church by the Archbishop of Paris
.
and England in the same year, he went to Spain
, where he enlisted in a regiment of dragoon
s, and afterwards became a student at the military academy of Barcelona
. He soon abandoned, however, the idea of a military career, and went to Belgium
, where he entered the Carthusian monastery
at Nieuwpoort
, at that time the sole English house of the order. After his profession his leisure was devoted to scientific study, and his memoir Théorie des causes physiques des mouvements des corps célestes d'après les principes de Newton, won for him membership in the Imperial Academy of Brussels. He became prior of his monastery in 1764, but left the order thirteen years later, after having obtained a Bull of secularization and also the privilege of possessing a benefice.
and received a prebend in the Chapter of Notre-Dame de Courtrai
. In 1787 he was chosen perpetual secretary of the Brussels Academy, and carried on numerous meteorological
observations under its auspices. The invasion of the French in 1794 forced him to leave Belgium, and, after travelling in Germany
and England, he finally settled at Prague
, where he continued his literary labours until his death.
, rather than abandon his favourite studies.
He died at Prague in Bohemia on February 23, 1809.
He was also the translator of an English work, which was published under the title Dictionnaire des Jardiniers et des Cultivateurs (Brussels, 1786-9).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
naturalist and historian, born in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
on June 22, 1735.
Education
Little is known of his education except that he seems to have imbibed deistic ideas in his youth. He left England about 1754 and went to ParisParis
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...
. Here the study of Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
's Discours sur l'histoire universelle exerted a profound influence upon him, and in 1756 he was received into the Catholic Church by the Archbishop of Paris
Archbishop of Paris
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris is one of twenty-three archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The original diocese is traditionally thought to have been created in the 3rd century by St. Denis and corresponded with the Civitas Parisiorum; it was elevated to an archdiocese on...
.
Religious and Literary Life
Upon the outbreak of the war between FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England in the same year, he went to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he enlisted in a regiment of dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s, and afterwards became a student at the military academy of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He soon abandoned, however, the idea of a military career, and went to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where he entered the Carthusian monastery
Sheen Anglorum Charterhouse
Sheen Anglorum Charterhouse, also known as the Charterhouse of Jesus of Bethlehem and as Nieuwpoort Charterhouse , was a community of English Carthusians in exile in what is now Belgium after 1539 and the Dissolution of the Monasteries...
at Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort, Belgium
Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062....
, at that time the sole English house of the order. After his profession his leisure was devoted to scientific study, and his memoir Théorie des causes physiques des mouvements des corps célestes d'après les principes de Newton, won for him membership in the Imperial Academy of Brussels. He became prior of his monastery in 1764, but left the order thirteen years later, after having obtained a Bull of secularization and also the privilege of possessing a benefice.
Studies
He took up his residence at BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and received a prebend in the Chapter of Notre-Dame de Courtrai
Church of Our Lady (Kortrijk)
The Church of Our Lady in Kortrijk was built in 1199 established by count Baldwin I of Constantinople. The church is situated in the historic city centre of Kortrijk.- History :...
. In 1787 he was chosen perpetual secretary of the Brussels Academy, and carried on numerous meteorological
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
observations under its auspices. The invasion of the French in 1794 forced him to leave Belgium, and, after travelling in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and England, he finally settled at Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he continued his literary labours until his death.
Dedication
Mann was a laborious student and a versatile writer. He is said to have refused the Bishopric of Antwerp offered him by Emperor Joseph IIJoseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
, rather than abandon his favourite studies.
He died at Prague in Bohemia on February 23, 1809.
Works
His principal literary works, conspicuous for their erudition, were:- Mémoire et lettres sur l'étude de la langue grecque (Brussels, 1781);
- Mémoire sur la conservation et le commerce des grains (Mechlin, 1764);
- Abrégé de l'histoire ecclesiastique, civile, et naturelle de la ville de Bruxelles et de ses environs (Brussels, 1785), in collaboration with Foppens;
- Histoire du règne de Marie Thérèse (Brussels, 1781; 2nd ed., 1786);
- Recueil de mémoires sur les grandes gelées et leurs effets (GhentGhentGhent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, 1792); - Principes métaphysiques des êtres et des connaissances (ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 1807), and numerous papers in the Mémoires of the Brussels Academy.
He was also the translator of an English work, which was published under the title Dictionnaire des Jardiniers et des Cultivateurs (Brussels, 1786-9).