Friedrich Risner

Friedrich Risner (* 1533 in Hersfeld, † September 15, 1580 ) was a mathematician.

Life

Friedrich Risner was born around 1533. He was a student of Peter Ramus and the first holder of the chair of mathematics at the Collège Royale de France in Paris.

Risner published in 1572 Opticae thesaurus: Arabis libri septem Alhazeni, nuncprimum editi; Eiusdem liber De Crepusculis et Nubium ascensionibus, a Latinized translation of the works of Ibn al - Haitham and Erazmus Vitelo Ciolek, who were both early pioneers in the field of optics. Risners publication had great influence on the mathematicians of his time. Among other things, these were Johannes Kepler, Christiaan Huygens, and René Descartes.

Risner the construction of the first portable camera obscura is attributed.

Following the Massacre of St. Bartholomew fled Risner back to Hersfeld and died there at the age of 47 years. He was buried in the collegiate church of Bad Hersfeld. His grave stone there exists still in good condition. The Latin inscription reads:

"Anno Domini in 1580. 17th Cal. Octob. pie in Christ obiit Clariss. vir insignis Fridericus Risner et praestantissimus Mathematicus qui hic terrae Mandatus sonitum tubae expectat Aetatis suae 47 "

" In the year of our Lord 1580 on September 15, died in Christ in the 47 years of the very famous Friedrich Risner, an excellent and outstanding mathematician, who handed over the earth here the sound of the trumpet expected "

In the lower part of the grave stone the family crest of Risners can be seen.

Works

• Friedrich Risner ( Ed. ): Opticae thesaurus. Basel, 1572; with introduction by David Lindberg, NY: Johnson Reprint, 1972