Wolfgang Sartorius von Waltershausen
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Sartorius Freiherr
von Waltershausen (December 17, 1809 – March 16, 1876) was a German
geologist
.
and educated at the university in that city. There he devoted his attention to physical and natural science, and in particular to mineralogy
. Waltershausen was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
, who was close friends with his parents. Waltershausen's father, Georg, was a writer, lecturer and professor of economics and history at Göttingen. Georg Sartorius
(later Sartorius von Waltershausen) is best known in his role of translator and popularizer of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. Waltershausen's son, August
, was a well known economist who studied the American economy, and had at least one of his books translated into English.
During a tour in 1834-1835 Waltershausen carried out a series of magnetic observations in various parts of Europe
. He then gave his attention to an exhaustive investigation of the volcano
of Mount Etna
, in Sicily
, and carried on the work with some interruptions until 1843 including with Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters
. The chief result of this undertaking was his great Atlas des Ätna (1858–1861), in which he distinguished the lava
streams formed during the later centuries.
After his return from Mount Etna, Waltershausen visited Iceland
, and subsequently published Physisch-geographische Skizze von Island (1847), Über die vulkanischen Gesteine in Sizilien und Island (1853), and Geologischer Atlas von Island (1853). Meanwhile he was appointed professor of mineralogy and geology at Göttingen, and held this post for about thirty years, until his death.
In 1866 Waltershausen published an important essay entitled Recherches sur les climats de l'époque actuelle et des époques anciennes; in this he expressed his belief that the Ice age
was due to changes in the configuration of the Earth's surface. He died at Göttingen.
In 1880, Arnold von Lasaulx
edited Waltershausen notes and published the book Der Aetna (cover page pictured).
, is viewed as Gauss's biography as Gauss wished it to be told. It is also the source of one of the most famous mathematical quotes: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. and the famous story of Gauss quickly adding up a long string of consecutive numbers
When Gauss died in Göttingen, two individuals gave eulogies at his funeral: Gauss's son-in-law Heinrich Ewald
, and Waltershausen who represented the faculty in Göttingen.
73°52′N 24°20′W.
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
von Waltershausen (December 17, 1809 – March 16, 1876) was a German
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...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
Life and work
Waltershausen was born at GöttingenGöttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and educated at the university in that city. There he devoted his attention to physical and natural science, and in particular to 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...
. Waltershausen was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, who was close friends with his parents. Waltershausen's father, Georg, was a writer, lecturer and professor of economics and history at Göttingen. Georg Sartorius
Georg Friedrich Sartorius
Georg Friedrich Sartorius after 1827 Freiherr von Waltershausen was a German research historian, economist and professor at Göttingen University....
(later Sartorius von Waltershausen) is best known in his role of translator and popularizer of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. Waltershausen's son, August
August Sartorius von Waltershausen
August Sartorius Freiherr von Waltershausen was a German economist.-Biography:He was born in Göttingen, the son of Wolfgang Sartorius von Waltershausen...
, was a well known economist who studied the American economy, and had at least one of his books translated into English.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He then gave his attention to an exhaustive investigation of the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
of Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
, in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and carried on the work with some interruptions until 1843 including with Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters
Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters
Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters was a German-American astronomer, and one of the first to discover asteroids....
. The chief result of this undertaking was his great Atlas des Ätna (1858–1861), in which he distinguished the lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
streams formed during the later centuries.
After his return from Mount Etna, Waltershausen visited Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and subsequently published Physisch-geographische Skizze von Island (1847), Über die vulkanischen Gesteine in Sizilien und Island (1853), and Geologischer Atlas von Island (1853). Meanwhile he was appointed professor of mineralogy and geology at Göttingen, and held this post for about thirty years, until his death.
In 1866 Waltershausen published an important essay entitled Recherches sur les climats de l'époque actuelle et des époques anciennes; in this he expressed his belief that the Ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
was due to changes in the configuration of the Earth's surface. He died at Göttingen.
In 1880, Arnold von Lasaulx
Arnold von Lasaulx
Arnold Constantin Peter Franz von Lasaulx was a German mineralogist and petrographer.He was born at Kastellaun near Coblenz, and educated at the University of Berlin, where he took his Ph. D. in 1868. In 1871 he became professor of mineralogy at Breslau, and in 1880 professor of mineralogy and...
edited Waltershausen notes and published the book Der Aetna (cover page pictured).
Gauss zum Gedächtnis
Waltershausen was also the author of Gauss zum Gedächtnis, in 1862. This biography, published upon the death of Carl Friedrich GaussCarl Friedrich Gauss
Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician and scientist who contributed significantly to many fields, including number theory, statistics, analysis, differential geometry, geodesy, geophysics, electrostatics, astronomy and optics.Sometimes referred to as the Princeps mathematicorum...
, is viewed as Gauss's biography as Gauss wished it to be told. It is also the source of one of the most famous mathematical quotes: Mathematics is the queen of the sciences. and the famous story of Gauss quickly adding up a long string of consecutive numbers
When Gauss died in Göttingen, two individuals gave eulogies at his funeral: Gauss's son-in-law Heinrich Ewald
Heinrich Ewald
Georg Heinrich August Ewald was a German orientalist and theologian.-Life:Ewald was born at Göttingen where his father was a linen weaver. In 1815 he was sent to the gymnasium, and in 1820 he entered the University of Göttingen, where he studied with J.G. Eichhorn and T. C. Tychsen, specialising...
, and Waltershausen who represented the faculty in Göttingen.
Commemorations
There is the mineral Sartorite as well as the Waltershausen Gletscher in Northeast Greenland National ParkNortheast Greenland National Park
Northeast Greenland National Park is the largest national park in the world, with an area of , making the park larger than 163 countries. It is the only national park in Greenland, and the most northerly national park in the world, its most northerly point reaching slightly further than the most...
73°52′N 24°20′W.
External links
- http://books.google.com/books?id=yh0PAAAAIAAJ Digitized English Translation of Waltershausen book on Gauss, Gauss zum Gedächtnis, 1862.
- http://webmineral.com/data/Sartorite.shtml - Satorite Mineral Page
- http://www.galleries.com/minerals/sulfides/sartorit/sartorit.htm - 2nd Satorite Mineral Page
- http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/50686?&print=yes - Discussion of Waltershausen as source on Gauss numbers story including partial translation of Waltershausen book on Gauss [American Scientist online Volume 94 Number: 3 Page 200 Gauss's Day of Reckoning: A famous story about the boy wonder of mathematics has taken on a life of its own, Brian Hayes]
- http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/biomems/cpeters.html Peters' information
- http://www.vonbibra.net/Waltershausen13.html - Waltershausen's parents' page and information on Waltershausen family website
- http://www.vonbibra.net/Waltershausen14.html - Waltershausen's son's page and information on Waltershausen family website