Victor Mordechai Goldschmidt
Encyclopedia
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Victor Mordechai Goldschmidt (February 10, 1853, in Mainz
- May 8, 1933, in Salzburg
) was a German mineralogist, natural philosopher
, and art collector.
, Goldschmidt attended the Bergakademie Freiberg in Saxony
and graduated in engineering in 1874. He received his doctorate in 1880 in Heidelberg
about mechanical rock analysis, and continued his studies in Vienna
from 1882 to 1887. In 1888 he wrote his habilitation
about "Projektion und graphische Krystallberechnung" under the same supervisor like his doctoral dissertation. He founded the Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie in Heidelberg from private money. In 1893, he became an adjunct professor (Honorarprofessor) at the University of Heidelberg and in 1913, he was awarded membership in the "Akademie der Wissenschaften Heidelberg".
His Atlas der Krystallformen grew from 1913 until 1923. At this time, in 1917, he was made a geheimer Hofrat
("secret court councilor"). In 1923, he was made an honorary member of the Naturhistorisch-Medizinischen Verein Heidelberg. In 1919, he donated his and his wife's extensive collection of art and ethnographic artefacts as Josephine and Eduard von Portheim-Stiftung to the state of Baden
. In 1933, the curatorium of the "v. Portheim-Stiftung" gave its mineralogical-crystallographical institute the name Victor-Goldschmidt-Institut für Kristallforschung. While on the faculty at Heidelberg, one of his later famous students was Thomas Jaggar
.
The Goldschmidts of Frankfurt, contributed significantly to the founding of Goethe University Frankfurt.
Victor Mordechai Goldschmidt (February 10, 1853, in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
- May 8, 1933, in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
) was a German mineralogist, natural philosopher
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 art collector.
Life
Born 1853 in MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, Goldschmidt attended the Bergakademie Freiberg in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
and graduated in engineering in 1874. He received his doctorate in 1880 in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
about mechanical rock analysis, and continued his studies in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna 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...
from 1882 to 1887. In 1888 he wrote his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
about "Projektion und graphische Krystallberechnung" under the same supervisor like his doctoral dissertation. He founded the Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie in Heidelberg from private money. In 1893, he became an adjunct professor (Honorarprofessor) at the University of Heidelberg and in 1913, he was awarded membership in the "Akademie der Wissenschaften Heidelberg".
His Atlas der Krystallformen grew from 1913 until 1923. At this time, in 1917, he was made a geheimer Hofrat
Geheimrat
Geheimrat was the title of the highest advising officials at the Imperial, royal or principal courts of the Holy Roman Empire, who jointly formed the Geheimer Rat reporting to the ruler...
("secret court councilor"). In 1923, he was made an honorary member of the Naturhistorisch-Medizinischen Verein Heidelberg. In 1919, he donated his and his wife's extensive collection of art and ethnographic artefacts as Josephine and Eduard von Portheim-Stiftung to the state of Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
. In 1933, the curatorium of the "v. Portheim-Stiftung" gave its mineralogical-crystallographical institute the name Victor-Goldschmidt-Institut für Kristallforschung. While on the faculty at Heidelberg, one of his later famous students was Thomas Jaggar
Thomas Jaggar
Thomas Augustus Jaggar, Jr. was an American volcanologist. He founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and directed it from 1912 to 1940.-Biography:...
.
The Goldschmidts of Frankfurt, contributed significantly to the founding of Goethe University Frankfurt.
Works
- Index der Kristallformen, Catalogue of all known crystal forms of all minerals, 3 volumes, 1886-1891.
- Atlas der Krystallformen, 9 books, Verlag Winters, Heidelberg 1913-1923.
External links
See also
- GoldschmidtGoldschmidtGoldschmidt is a German surname meaning "Goldsmith". It may refer to:* Adolph Goldschmidt , art historian* Berthold Goldschmidt , composer* Hans Goldschmidt , chemist, son of Theodor Goldschmidt...