, a celebrated Danish astronomer, and professor of that science
, a celebrated Danish astronomer, and professor of that science at Copenhagen, was
born at Laegsted, in Jutland, in 1679. He studied at Aalburg under very unfavourable circumstances, beingobliged,
at the same period, to submit to various kinds of labour.
In 1714, he was appointed professor of mathematics at Copenhagen, and in 1725 he was elected a member of the
Danish academy of sciences. He died in 1764. He was
author of many works connected with his favourite pursuits, among which were “Copernicus Trinmphans, sive
de Parallaxi Orbis Annui;
” in which he shews himself an enthusiast for the system of Copernicus; the “Elements of Astronomy;
” and “the Elements of Mathematics;
” but he is
best known in this country by his “Natural History of Iceland,
” fol.