, one of the greatest astronomers and mechanics of the last century,
, one of the greatest astronomers and
mechanics of the last century, was born at Maspach in the
duchy of Wirtemberg, in 1723. He taught himself mathematics, and at the age of fourteen designed machines
and instruments, which was his father’s profession, with
the greatest dexterity and justness. These pursuits did
not hinder him from cultivating the belles lettres: he acquired the Latin tongue, and wrote it with elegance. In
1750, the university of Gottingen chose him for their mathematical professor; and every year of his short, but glorious life, henceforward was marked with some considerable discoveries in geometry and astronomy. He published several works on those sciences, that are all reckoned
excellent; and some are inserted in the second volume of
the “Memoirs of the University of Gottingen.
” His labours seem to have exhausted him; for he died worn out
in 1762.