Johann Franz Bessel

Johann Georg Bessel, with religious name Gottfried ( born September 2, 1672 Buchen (Odenwald), † January 22, 1749 in Göttweig ) was a German -Austrian Benedictine and scientists.

Life

Gottfried Bessel, born in Buchen in the Odenwald, in the Archdiocese of Mainz, studied in Aschaffenburg, Bamberg, Würzburg and Salzburg. He entered the monastery Göttweig on June 15, 1692. He received on 21 March 1696 and was ordained priest in May, after his doctorate in theology teacher at the Benedictine monastery school in Blessed am Main.

Archbishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn, Elector of Mainz, Bessel entrusted with diplomatic missions to Vienna, Rome and Wolfenbüttel. After him, the La Sapienza University had graduated to Doctor iuris utriusque in Rome in 1703, Schönborn appointed him in 1704 to Mainz General and prosecuted ex officio. In 1700, he was Apostolic prothonotary. It was due to his diplomatic skills, that on May 1, 1707 Princess Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick- Wolfenbüttel and 1709 also her grandfather, the Duke Anton Ulrich converted.

Bessel was elected in 1714 to the abbot of the Benedictine monastery Göttweig in Lower Austria. The blessing took place not in Göttweig, but in the Bamberg Cathedral, chaired by the Elector of Mainz. 1716 was an imperial appointment to the court theologians. He was probably the most important abbot of the congregation (1714-1749), he had it rebuilt to plans by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt after the fire in 1718.

Even Gottfried Bessel 1714-16 was rector of the University of Vienna and author of Göttweiger Chronicle ( Chronicon Gotwicense ). Because of his pioneering research on the diplomatics he was often compared to Jean Mabillon, also known as " German Mabillon ".

During the War of the Austrian Succession in 1741 he is advised as a hostage in French detention and had to be ransomed for 50,000 fl. On June 29, 1746 was celebrated in the presence of Emperor Franz Stephan and Maria Theresa his Golden professed, priest and doctor anniversary.

After Gottfried Bessel secondary school of the town book is named.