Johannes von Gmunden

Johannes von Gmunden (Latin: Johannes de Gamundia; c. 1380/84 – February 23, 1442) was a German/Austrian astronomer, mathematician, humanist and early instrument maker.

Johannes von Gmünd is also the name of a 14th-century architect, see Basel Münster.
Johannes von Gmunden
Born1380/84
Gmunden, Duchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died(1442-02-23)February 23, 1442
Vienna, Duchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
NationalityAustrian
EducationUniversity of Vienna (M.A., 1406)
Known forAstronomical tables
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy
InstitutionsUniversity of Vienna
Academic advisorsHeinrich von Langenstein[1]
Notable studentsGeorg von Peuerbach

Biography

Johannes von Gmunden received the degree of a Master of Arts at the University of Vienna in 1406. From 1408, he was a lecturer at Vienna, lecturing on Aristotle's Physics (1408) and Meteora (1409, 1411), Peter of Spain (1410) and Algorismus de minutiis (1412). He fell seriously ill in 1412.

In 1415 and 1416 studied theology, completing a Bachelor of Theology in 1416.[2] He continued lecturing only in 1419, on algorismus de integris. From 1420, Johannes was permitted to restrict his teaching to the specialized field of the mathematics of astronomy, focusing on Euclid's Elements and the Sphaera materialis of John Holywood. With the aid of students (Weidler's 1741 Historia astronomiae names Georg Pruneck of Ruspach, Georg of Neuenburg, Johannes Schinkel and Johannes Feldner) he compiled voluminous astronomical tables. In 1425, he was elected canon at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Georg von Peuerbach succeeded him at Vienna University in 1450.

John's origins are somewhat disputed. He was probably born in Gmunden, Upper Austria, but there were also suggestions connecting him with Gmünd, Lower Austria, or that he was a Swabian from Schwäbisch Gmünd who studied in Ulm in his youth, based on a document written at Ulm in 1404 by one "Johannes Wissbier de Gamundia".

Legacy

Works
  • Astrolabii qui primi mobilis motus deprehendur canones (1515)

See also

Notes
  1. Hans Rupprich, Hedwig Heger, Die deutsche Literatur vom späten Mittelalter bis zum Barock: Das ausgehende Mittelalter, Humanismus und Renaissance : 1370-1520, C.H. Beck, 1994, p. 464: "Wahrscheinlich nicht mehr unmittelbarer Schüler, wohl aber Fortsetzer der Tradition Langensteins war Johann von Gmunden († 1442), der Begründer der Wiener astronomischen Schule."
  2. Christoph Schöner, Mathematik und Astronomie an der Universität Ingolstadt im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert, Duncker & Humblot, 1994, p. 69.

References
  • John Mundy, John of Gmunden, Isis, The History of Science Society (1943).

Further reading
  • P. Uiblein, Johannes von Gmunden, in: Beiträge zur Wiener Diözesangeschichte 15, 1974
  • E. Prillinger (Hrsg.): Die Zeit kommt vom Himmel: von der Astronomie zum Kalender. Zum Gedächtnis Johannes von Gmunden, 1384-1442, 1984.
  • Helmuth Grössing: "Johannes von Gmunden in seiner Zeit, In: Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften 3-4 (1985) pp. 66-72
  • Ralf Kern. "Wissenschaftliche Instrumente in ihrer Zeit", Band 1: "Vom Astrolab zum mathematischen Besteck". p. 197.
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