Jan Tesánek ( la, Joannis Tessanek) (1728–1788) was a

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

n scholar and author of scientific literature.

Biography

Tesánek studied at a

gymnasium (school) ''Gymnasium'' (and variations of the word) is a term in various European languages for a secondary school that prepares students for higher education at a university. It is comparable to the US English term '' preparatory high school''. Bef ...

in Prague and later at Faculty of Philosophy of

Charles University ) , image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg , image_size = 200px , established = , type = Public, Ancient , budget = 8.9 billion CZK , rector = Milena Králíčková , faculty = 4,057 , administrative_staff = 4,026 , students = 51,438 , undergr ...

. In 1745, he became a

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

and studied mathematics, physics and astronomy under

Joseph Stepling Joseph Stepling (29 June 1716 − 11 July 1778) was a Bohemian Jesuit priest, astronomer, physicist, and mathematician. Stepling founded the Clementinum Observatory in Prague in 1751 fitted with the best instruments available in that period, some ...

, a student of

Ignatz Mühlwenzel Ignatz Heinrich Mühlwenzel (c. 1690 – 11 July 1766) was a Bohemian mathematician. Life Ignatz Heinrich Mühlwenzel (referred to in ''Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich'' as ''Heinrich Mühlwenzel'')''Biographisches Lexiko ...

. Stepling introduced Tesánek to the works of

Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/27) was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author (described in his time as a "natural philosopher"), widely recognised as one of the grea ...

. After finishing under the Faculty of Philosophy, Tesánek continued with study of

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

. He was then ordained a priest and became professor of

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

at Charles University. Later, he taught mathematics at the University of Olomouc. Two years later he returned to Prague to assume a professorship of high mathematics at the University. He remained at the University after the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773 and assumed the position of head of the Department of Mathematics and Physics in 1778. Tesánek is known for his many writings on the science of the day, helping to spread knowledge of scientific findings throughout Europe. Tessanek - Principia Mathematica

Major works

*''Miscellanea mathematica'' (1764, 1769) *''Sectiones conoidum'' (1764) *''Pertractatio quorundam modorum quaestiones geometricas resolvendi'' (1770) *''Pertractatio elementorum calculi integralis'' (1771) *''Isaaci Newtoni Libri I. principiorum mathematicorum philosophiae naturalis Sect. I-V exposita'' (1769) *''Betrachtungen über eine Stelle der allgmeinen Arithmetik Isaac Newtons'' (1784) *''Versuch über einige Stellen in Newtons Principiis'' (1776) *''Algebraische Behandlung der XII Section des I. Buches des grossen Werkes Newtons'' (1777) *''Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica, auctore Isaaco Newtono, illustrata commentationibus potissimum Is. Tesanek et quibusdam in locis commentation ibus veterioribus clarissimorum Thom. Le Sueur et Fried. Jacquier, ex Gallicana Minorum familia Matheseos Professorum aliter propositis'' (Tesánek's most important work, two books, 1780 a 1785).

Notes

References

''Scholasticon'' page
1727 births 1788 deaths People from Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav Czech Jesuits Czech male writers Academic staff of Charles University Czech science writers Academic staff of Palacký University Olomouc {{CzechRepublic-scientist-stub