Christopher Polhem

Christopher Polhem (also Polhammar; born December 18, 1661 Tingstäde (according to other sources Visby, Gotland ); † August 30, 1751 in Stockholm) was a Swedish scientist and inventor as well as a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Polhem studied from 1687 at the University of Uppsala mathematics and physics. In 1697 he founded the first Swedish School of Engineering, the Laborium mechanicum in Stockholm (later to Falun Stjärnsund or relocated ). For the instruction of his pupils Polhem created a collection of wooden models for evaluating various mechanical movements could be explained by the mechanical so-called alphabet. He was knighted in 1716 and changed his name from Polhammar in Polhem. In Stjärnsund he built several factories, whose plants were operated by water power.

Polhem was commissioned älv also with the design of the locks to bypass the Trollhättanfälle in Gota, however, was so unsuccessful.

From 1876 to 1920, a named after him water -powered drive system for the drainage of mines, the so-called Polhemsrad, in the Swedish Bergslagen operation.

His nephew Anders Polhammer (1705-1767) was known as a watchmaker.

Honors

• Swedish Order of the North Star
• On the back of the Swedish 500 -krone banknote Christopher Polhem is shown.

Trivia

In the Swedish children's book "Tomorrow, Findus, it gets what give " by Sven Nordqvist, the protagonist Pettersson dreams that Christopher Polhem left him in a dream advice to build a machine.