Rasmus Bartholin

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Rasmus Bartholin
Rasmus Bartholin
Born	13 August 1625 Roskilde
Died	4 November 1698 (aged 73) Kopenhagen
Nationality	Danish
Fields	Physics
Known for	double refraction of a light ray

Rasmus Bartholin (Latinized Erasmus Bartholinus; 13 August 1625, Roskilde – 4 November 1698, Kopenhagen) was a Danish scientist and physician. As part of his studies, he travelled in Europe for ten years. Professor at the University of Copenhagen, first in Geometry, later in Medicine. He was a younger brother of Thomas Bartholin.
Rasmus Bartholin is remembered especially for his discovery (1669) of the double refraction of a light ray by Iceland spar (calcite).^[1] He published an accurate description of the phenomenon, but since the physical nature of light was poorly understood at the time, he was unable to explain it. It was only after Thomas Young proposed the wave theory of light, c. 1801 that an explanation became possible.

[edit] Important Facts

1. Dates
    Born: Roskilde, Denmark, 13 Aug. 1625
Died: Copenhagen, 4 Nov. 1698
    Dateinfo: Dates Certain
    Lifespan: 73
2. Father
    Caspar Bartholin
    Occupation: Physician, Academic
    He died when Erasmus was four. No clear information on financial status.
3. Nationality
    Birth: Roskilde, Denmark
    Career: Denmark
    Death: Copenhagen, Denmark
4. Education
    Taught initially by private teachers, then attended Latin school.
    Univ. of Copenhagen (1642-4), B.A. in 1644. M.A. in 1647.
    Studied mathematics at the University of Leiden for several years beginning in 1645.
    1651: studied mathematics in France and Italy, ultimately at the Padua where he was Consiliarius for the German Nation and Vice-syndicus for the university.
    M.D., 1654 at Padua.
    1654-6: travelled and studied in Italy.
5. Religion
    Affiliation: Lutheran.
6. Scientific Disciplines
    Primary: Mathematics, Optics
    Subordinate: Medicine, Astronomy
    Major contribution to science was his study of Icelandic spar.
    Writings in pure mathematics were fairly numerous but not of great importance.
    Wrote a little on medicine.
    Observed the comets of 1665 and other astronomical objects, and published about this topic.
7. Means of Support
    Primary: Academia, Patronage, Government
    Professor of mathematics at Copenhagen, 1657.
    Extraordinary chair of medicine, 1657.
    Royal Mathematician, 1667.
    Ordinary chair of medicine, 1671.
    Teacher to Prince Joergen, 1671.
    Dean of the faculty of medicine.
    Librarian.
    Rector in three different years.
    Royal physician.
    Privy concilor, Advisor to the chancellor, then minister of justice.
8. Patronage
    Type: Court Official
    He was supported and directed by Frederick III of Denmark to prepare for publication the collected manuscript observations of Tycho Brahe.
    In addition, all of the connections to the court, and the various appointments above.
9. Technological Involvement
    Type: Medical Practice
    As a physician, he introduced quinine in the fight against malaria.
10. Scientific Societies
    Memberships: None
    He worked with Ole Roemer on Tycho's manuscripts.
    He worked with Niels Stensen on crystallography.

[edit] References

^ Erasmus Bartholin, Experimenta crystalli islandici disdiaclastici quibus mira & insolita refractio detegitur (Copenhagen ("Hafniæ"), Denmark: Daniel Paulli, 1669). English translation: Experiments with the double refracting Iceland crystal which led to the discovery of a marvelous and strange refraction, tr. by Werner Brandt. Westtown, Pa., 1959.

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