Hartvig Caspar Christie (physicist)
Encyclopedia
Hartvig Caspar Christie was a Norwegian mineralogist and physicist.
as a son of naval commander Hartvig Caspar Christie (1788–1869) and Martha Sophia Sylow. He was a grandnephew of Werner Hosewinckel Christie, a nephew of Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
and Edvard Eilert Christie
and a first cousin of Hans Langsted Christie
, Christian Christie
and Johan Koren Christie
.
In January 1859 in Christiania
he married Margaretha Sophie Bonnevie (1831–1913). The couple had eight children, and they were grandparents of politician Hartvig Caspar Christie
. Through his wife, Christie was a brother-in-law of politician Jacob Aall Bonnevie
, a son-in-law of politician Honoratus Bonnevie
and an uncle of professor Kristine Bonnevie, judge Thomas Bonnevie and politician Carl Emil Christian Bonnevie.
from 1849 to 1851, and was hired at the Royal Frederick University
in 1851. After a hiatus in the second half of the 1850s, he was hired as a lecturer in 1859. He succeeded Lorentz Christian Langberg, who died in 1857, and was hired in competition with Adam Arndtsen
. He also became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
. He was a professor at the Royal Frederick University from 1866 to his death. He also held lectures in physics, geognosy and mineralogy
at the Norwegian Military College
, and helped establish Kristiania Technical School (today a part of Oslo University College
).
From 1857 to 1859 Christie had studied in Göttingen under Wilhelm Eduard Weber
. Among others, he measured diamagnetism
in bismuth
. He also studied in Paris
under Henri Victor Regnault
. The work on diamagnetism in bismuth was his only published thesis, but he became known for his textbooks in physics. He released a textbook for the university level, in two volumes in 1864 and 1865, and a textbook for upper secondary schools in 1871. The latter was translated to both Swedish
and Finnish
. He was a subeditor for the journal Polyteknisk tidsskrift from 1855 to 1857, and from 1855 to 1856 he was the chairman of the Norwegian Polytechnic Society.
He was also a board member of the Norwegian State Railways, the National Gallery of Norway
and the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
. He became involved in politics, was a member of the executive committee of the city council from 1869, served as deputy mayor from 1 January 1873 and after the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1873 he became a deputy member of the Parliament of Norway. He never got the chance to meet in Parliament, as he died in March 1873 due to complications from hernia
surgery.
Personal life
He was born in TrondhjemTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as a son of naval commander Hartvig Caspar Christie (1788–1869) and Martha Sophia Sylow. He was a grandnephew of Werner Hosewinckel Christie, a nephew of Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie
Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie was a Norwegian constitutional father, known for being the constitutional assembly's writer. -Background:...
and Edvard Eilert Christie
Edvard Eilert Christie
Edvard Eilert Christie was a Norwegian businessperson and politician.He was a son of postmaster and merchant in Christianssund, Johann Koren Christie . He was a nephew of Werner Hosewinckel Christie and a brother of noted politician Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie...
and a first cousin of Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie was a Norwegian jurist and politician.He was born in Fridalen in Aarstad a son of customs treasurer Werner Hosewinckel Christie...
, Christian Christie
Christian Christie
Eilert Christian Brodtkorb Christie was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of customs officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie and Hansine Langsted...
and Johan Koren Christie
Johan Koren Christie (writer)
Johan Koren Christie was a Norwegian writer. He was a notable nationalist writer in the middle of the nineteenth century.He was born in Kristiansund, the son of customs officer and politician Edvard Eilert Christie...
.
In January 1859 in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
he married Margaretha Sophie Bonnevie (1831–1913). The couple had eight children, and they were grandparents of politician Hartvig Caspar Christie
Hartvig Caspar Christie
Hartvig Caspar Christie was a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Hornnes....
. Through his wife, Christie was a brother-in-law of politician Jacob Aall Bonnevie
Jacob Aall Bonnevie
Jacob Aall Bonnevie was a Norwegian school director and a politician for the Conservative Party. Born in Christiania , he was the son of Honoratus Bonnevie who later became mayor of the city...
, a son-in-law of politician Honoratus Bonnevie
Honoratus Bonnevie (politician)
Honoratus Bonnevie was a Norwegian politician.He was the son of district stipendiary magistrate Niels Cornelius Bonnevie...
and an uncle of professor Kristine Bonnevie, judge Thomas Bonnevie and politician Carl Emil Christian Bonnevie.
Career
He finished secondary school at Trondheim Cathedral School in 1844, and took the cand.miner. degree in 1848. He worked at Kongsberg Silver MinesKongsberg Silver Mines
The silver mines of Kongsberg, in Buskerud county in Norway, constitute the largest mining field in Norway, with over 80 different mines.It was the largest pre-industrial working place in Norway, with over 4,000 workers at its peak in the 1770s and supplied over 10% of the gross national product of...
from 1849 to 1851, and was hired at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1851. After a hiatus in the second half of the 1850s, he was hired as a lecturer in 1859. He succeeded Lorentz Christian Langberg, who died in 1857, and was hired in competition with Adam Arndtsen
Adam Arndtsen
Adam Frederik Oluf Arndtsen was a Norwegian physicist.In 1859 he lost out to Hartvig Caspar Christie in a competition to succeed Lorentz Christian Langberg as an academic of physics at the Royal Frederick University. He later became the first director of the Norwegian Metrology Service, serving...
. He also became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
. He was a professor at the Royal Frederick University from 1866 to his death. He also held lectures in physics, geognosy and mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
at the Norwegian Military College
Norwegian Military College
The Norwegian Military College was a military educational institution in Norway.It was established on 16 February 1817, with headquarters at Akershus Fortress...
, and helped establish Kristiania Technical School (today a part of Oslo University College
Oslo University College
Oslo University College , Norwegian: Høgskolen i Oslo is the largest state university college in Norway, with more than 11,000 students and approx. 1100 employees...
).
From 1857 to 1859 Christie had studied in Göttingen under Wilhelm Eduard Weber
Wilhelm Eduard Weber
Wilhelm Eduard Weber was a German physicist and, together with Carl Friedrich Gauss, inventor of the first electromagnetic telegraph.-Early years:...
. Among others, he measured diamagnetism
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism is the property of an object which causes it to create a magnetic field in opposition to an externally applied magnetic field, thus causing a repulsive effect. Specifically, an external magnetic field alters the orbital velocity of electrons around their nuclei, thus changing the...
in bismuth
Bismuth
Bismuth is a chemical element with symbol Bi and atomic number 83. Bismuth, a trivalent poor metal, chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. Elemental bismuth may occur naturally uncombined, although its sulfide and oxide form important commercial ores. The free element is 86% as dense as lead...
. He also studied in Paris
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...
under Henri Victor Regnault
Henri Victor Regnault
Henri Victor Regnault was a French chemist and physicist best known for his careful measurements of the thermal properties of gases. He was an early thermodynamicist and was mentor to William Thomson in the late 1840s....
. The work on diamagnetism in bismuth was his only published thesis, but he became known for his textbooks in physics. He released a textbook for the university level, in two volumes in 1864 and 1865, and a textbook for upper secondary schools in 1871. The latter was translated to both Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
and Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
. He was a subeditor for the journal Polyteknisk tidsskrift from 1855 to 1857, and from 1855 to 1856 he was the chairman of the Norwegian Polytechnic Society.
He was also a board member of the Norwegian State Railways, the National Gallery of Norway
National Gallery of Norway
The National Gallery of Norway is a gallery in Oslo, Norway. Since 2003 it is administratively a part of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design.-History:...
and the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
. He became involved in politics, was a member of the executive committee of the city council from 1869, served as deputy mayor from 1 January 1873 and after the Norwegian parliamentary election, 1873 he became a deputy member of the Parliament of Norway. He never got the chance to meet in Parliament, as he died in March 1873 due to complications from hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
surgery.