BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 



after 1738 Professor of Physics in the Univer- 

 sity of Wittenberg. At the bombardment of 

 that city, 1760, he was taken as hostage by the 

 Prussians to Magdeburg, where he died the fol- 

 lowing year. Made researches and wrote on 

 astronomy, physics, and electricity. 



Boyle, Robert, ii, 205. Born at Waterford, 

 Ireland, 1627; died at London, 1691. Irish physi- 

 cist and chemist. Studied at Eton and on the 

 Continent. Devoted himself to science. One of 

 the originators of the Royal Society. In 1654 

 settled at Oxford and experimented in pneu- 

 matics, improving the air-pump. Was very 

 active in religion. Formulated independently 

 of Mariotte the law of gases known by his name. 

 Succeeded Bacon in the reputation of being the 

 greatest English scientist of his time. 



Bradley, James, iii, 13. Born at Sherborne, 

 England, 1693; died at Chalford, 1762. English 

 astronomer. Educated at Oxford. 1721 ap- 

 pointed to Savilian Chair of Astronomy, Oxford. 

 1729 announced discovery of aberration of light. 

 1742 appointed Astronomer Royal and made 

 many important discoveries at Greenwich, 

 among them nutation of the earth's axis. By 

 procuring new instruments, he made the Royal 

 Observatory the first of the great modern ob- 

 servatories. Newton called him "the best as- 

 tronomer in Europe." 



Brahe, Tycho, i, 217. Born at Knudstrup, 

 Sweden, 1546; died at Prague, 1601. Danish 

 astronomer, educated at Copenhagen. Destined 

 for law, but persisted in studying astronomy, in 

 which he made many discoveries. 1572 discov- 

 ered a new and brilliant star in Cassiopeia. 



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