Johann Joseph von Prechtl

Johann Joseph von Prechtl ( born November 16, 1778 in Bishop, Germany, † October 28, 1854 in Vienna ) was an Austrian technologist German origin.

Life

He first studied at the University of Würzburg law. As of 1802, he went to Vienna an activity to which the Imperial Parliament. At times he was tutor to the family of Count Johann Taaffe in Brno. During this time he -actuated numerous physical and chemical experiments and wrote one of the first books about education with an anti- authoritarian approach. In 1805 he received a prize from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences for his memoir of the physics of fire.

With 31 years he was called Prechtl establishing a real and navigation school in Trieste, which line he took over and held until 1810.

Then he went back to Vienna, where he led the Vienna Polytechnic Institute (now Vienna University of Technology ), founded after long preparatory work and board in the years 1815-1849 him as a director. From Prechtl comes the z.T. still recognizable constitution and organization.

Besides working at the Polytechnic, he worked on the flight of birds, in which he observed nature and tried to lay the foundations for flying. These papers are among the first theoretical considerations of flying. However, he studied not only the shapes of the wings, but the entire anatomy of birds. These both experimentally and mathematical experiments, he also came across the flying machine Jakob Degen.

Further research related to the public gas lighting. This research he conducted together with Johann Arzberger. With him, he erected in 1816 one of the first major gas-related production equipment for the production of illuminating gas from coal in Vienna.

Johann Josef von Prechtl died on October 28, 1854 at the age of 76 years in Vienna and was buried in the Viennese central cemetery ( 43D -1 ) in an honorary grave dedicated.

Awards

• Since 1818 a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.
• 1846 Honorary Citizen of the City of Vienna
• Since 1847 Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
• 1849 Knights Cross of the Order of Leopold.

Appreciation

In 1886 (9th district) was named the Prechtlgasse after him in Vienna Alsergrund. In recognition of his great services the professorial staff of the Technical University of Vienna founded in 1950 Johann Joseph Ritter von Prechtl Medal. This is the highest award that can be awarded the college professor is awarded for significant achievements in the fields of engineering and natural sciences as well as the architecture.

In 1965, a 25 -shilling silver coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the Vienna University of Technology was issued.

Works

• About the errors of education especially in regard to the social evils (1804, reissued by Christian Hantschk, Vienna 1994)
• Instructions for the convenience of setting up the apparatus for lighting with coal gas. Gerold, Vienna 1817.
• Fundamental doctrines of chemistry in technical relationship (1813-1815)
• Editor of the "Technological Encyklopadie or alphabetical handbook of technology, industrial chemistry and mechanical engineering. " Cotta Verlag, Stuttgart 1830-1869, 20 volumes, 5 supplementary volumes and 8 Atlas volumes, a total of 33 volumes