CHRISTIAN DOPPLER
Christian Andreas Doppler
Born: 29 Nov 1803 in Salzburg, Austria
Died: 17 March 1853 in Venice, Italy
Christian Doppler's family were stonemason's who had a successful business in
Salzburg, Austria from 1674. The prospering business led to the building of a
fine house in the Hannibal Platz [now named Makart Platz] in Salzburg, near to
the river. Christian Doppler was born in this family house and, of course, the
family tradition would have had him grow up to take over the stonemason's
business. However his health was never very good and he was quite frail so he
could not follow in the family tradition.
Doppler attended primary school in Salzburg and then attended secondary school
in Linz. His parents were unsure of his academic potential and consulted the
professor of mathematics at the Salzburg Lyceum who recommended that Doppler
should study mathematics at the Vienna Polytechnic Institute. The Polytechnic
Institute had only been founded in 1815, so it was still a new establishment
when Doppler began his studies there in 1822. He excelled in his mathematical
and other studies and graduated in 1825. After this he returned to Salzburg,
attended philosophy lectures at the Salzburg Lyceum, then went to the University
of Vienna where he studied higher mathematics, mechanics and astronomy.
At the end of his studies at the University of Vienna in 1829, Doppler was
appointed as assistant to the professor of higher mathematics and mechanics at
the University, Professor A Burg. He published four mathematics papers during
his four years as Burg's assistant, his first being A contribution to the theory
of parallels. This assistantship was only a temporary post and Doppler, rather
older than most others, began to seek a permanent post at the age of 30. In [11]
Seidlerova explains how applications worked at that time in Austria:-
From 1825 all vacant professorships at Austrian universities and polytechnics
were filled by public competition. It actually meant admission examination,
where the questions were determined ... The applicants at various schools of the
monarchy had to answer them in written form, which could take up to twelve hours.
Part of the examination was also a short probationary lecture on an arbitrary
topic in front of the appointed commission. The sealed answers, together with an
evaluation of the lecture, were then sent to the school where the competition
had been announced.
The final decisions were taken by the commission in Vienna but the applicants
were only selected on their teaching ability, any sign of higher levels of
knowledge would be treated as telling against the candidate. Doppler submitted
himself to a number of these competitions, both for school and university places.
He applied to schools in Linz, Salzburg, Gorizia and Ljubljana and for the chair
of higher mathematics at Vienna Polytechnic and on 23 March 1833 for the
professorship of arithmetic, algebra, theoretical geometry and accountancy at
the Technical Secondary School in Prague.
While this was going on Doppler had to earn his living and he spent 18 months as
a bookkeeper at a cotton spinning factory. This was a period of sadness and
great difficulty for Doppler and it is not surprising that he decided to give up
the unequal struggle and emigrate to America. He began to sell his possessions
and visited the American Consul in Munich to make the necessary arrangements.
However, when he was close to making the final decision he received an offer of
the post at the Technical Secondary School in Prague. It had taken a long time
for the process of appointing to reach its conclusion and Doppler took up his
post in March 1835, almost exactly two years after entering the competition.
Doppler was ambitious and teaching elementary mathematics at the Technical
School was not greatly to his liking. He tried for a post of professor of higher
mathematics at the Polytechnic in Prague but without success. However, during
1836-38 he was able to teach higher mathematics for four hours a week at the
Polytechnic. This brought in extra money which he certainly needed since he
married in 1836.
Doppler did get another chance of a post at the Polytechnic, however, and at the
end of 1837 the professorship in practical geometry and elementary mathematics
became vacant. Doppler assumed the duties of the post but things were not that
straightforward. Despite the fact that he was carrying out the duties, a
competition for the post was held on 3 October 1839. Doppler did not have to
take part in the competition but was hurt by the fact that it was held at all.
He was formally appointed to the post in March 1841.
Doppler's time as the first Director of the Institute of Physics at Vienna
University was a short one. He was appointed by Imperial Decree on 17 January
1850. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and, in
November 1852, he travelled to Venice in the hope that the warmer climate would
bring about some improvement. It was not to be, however, and by March 1853 it
was clear that he was sinking fast. Doppler's wife, who had given him staunch
support throughout their marriage, had remained in Vienna with their three sons
and two daughters awaiting his return but, on realising that his end was near,
she made the journey to Venice and was with Doppler when he died.
Christian Andreas Doppler
Born: 29 Nov 1803 in Salzburg, Austria
Died: 17 March 1853 in Venice, Italy
Christian Doppler's family were stonemason's who had a successful business in
Salzburg, Austria from 1674. The prospering business led to the building of a
fine house in the Hannibal Platz [now named Makart Platz] in Salzburg, near to
the river. Christian Doppler was born in this family house and, of course, the
family tradition would have had him grow up to take over the stonemason's
business. However his health was never very good and he was quite frail so he
could not follow in the family tradition.
Doppler attended primary school in Salzburg and then attended secondary school
in Linz. His parents were unsure of his academic potential and consulted the
professor of mathematics at the Salzburg Lyceum who recommended that Doppler
should study mathematics at the Vienna Polytechnic Institute. The Polytechnic
Institute had only been founded in 1815, so it was still a new establishment
when Doppler began his studies there in 1822. He excelled in his mathematical
and other studies and graduated in 1825. After this he returned to Salzburg,
attended philosophy lectures at the Salzburg Lyceum, then went to the University
of Vienna where he studied higher mathematics, mechanics and astronomy.
At the end of his studies at the University of Vienna in 1829, Doppler was
appointed as assistant to the professor of higher mathematics and mechanics at
the University, Professor A Burg. He published four mathematics papers during
his four years as Burg's assistant, his first being A contribution to the theory
of parallels. This assistantship was only a temporary post and Doppler, rather
older than most others, began to seek a permanent post at the age of 30. In [11]
Seidlerova explains how applications worked at that time in Austria:-
From 1825 all vacant professorships at Austrian universities and polytechnics
were filled by public competition. It actually meant admission examination,
where the questions were determined ... The applicants at various schools of the
monarchy had to answer them in written form, which could take up to twelve hours.
Part of the examination was also a short probationary lecture on an arbitrary
topic in front of the appointed commission. The sealed answers, together with an
evaluation of the lecture, were then sent to the school where the competition
had been announced.
The final decisions were taken by the commission in Vienna but the applicants
were only selected on their teaching ability, any sign of higher levels of
knowledge would be treated as telling against the candidate. Doppler submitted
himself to a number of these competitions, both for school and university places.
He applied to schools in Linz, Salzburg, Gorizia and Ljubljana and for the chair
of higher mathematics at Vienna Polytechnic and on 23 March 1833 for the
professorship of arithmetic, algebra, theoretical geometry and accountancy at
the Technical Secondary School in Prague.
While this was going on Doppler had to earn his living and he spent 18 months as
a bookkeeper at a cotton spinning factory. This was a period of sadness and
great difficulty for Doppler and it is not surprising that he decided to give up
the unequal struggle and emigrate to America. He began to sell his possessions
and visited the American Consul in Munich to make the necessary arrangements.
However, when he was close to making the final decision he received an offer of
the post at the Technical Secondary School in Prague. It had taken a long time
for the process of appointing to reach its conclusion and Doppler took up his
post in March 1835, almost exactly two years after entering the competition.
Doppler was ambitious and teaching elementary mathematics at the Technical
School was not greatly to his liking. He tried for a post of professor of higher
mathematics at the Polytechnic in Prague but without success. However, during
1836-38 he was able to teach higher mathematics for four hours a week at the
Polytechnic. This brought in extra money which he certainly needed since he
married in 1836.
Doppler did get another chance of a post at the Polytechnic, however, and at the
end of 1837 the professorship in practical geometry and elementary mathematics
became vacant. Doppler assumed the duties of the post but things were not that
straightforward. Despite the fact that he was carrying out the duties, a
competition for the post was held on 3 October 1839. Doppler did not have to
take part in the competition but was hurt by the fact that it was held at all.
He was formally appointed to the post in March 1841.
Doppler's time as the first Director of the Institute of Physics at Vienna
University was a short one. He was appointed by Imperial Decree on 17 January
1850. His health continued to deteriorate with severe chest problems and, in
November 1852, he travelled to Venice in the hope that the warmer climate would
bring about some improvement. It was not to be, however, and by March 1853 it
was clear that he was sinking fast. Doppler's wife, who had given him staunch
support throughout their marriage, had remained in Vienna with their three sons
and two daughters awaiting his return but, on realising that his end was near,
she made the journey to Venice and was with Doppler when he died.