Alois Martin David facts for kids

Alois Martin David (born 8 December 1757 in Zeberheisch, Bohemia – died 22 February 1836 in Tepl Abbey) was a smart Bohemian Catholic priest. He was also a skilled astronomer and cartographer. A cartographer is someone who creates maps. He even became the head, or rector, of the famous Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague.

His Life and Studies

Alois Martin David grew up in a place called Tepl. He went to Prague University to study many subjects. These included philosophy, physics, mathematics, and theology. He learned from a teacher named Jan Tesánek.

David became a professor of metaphysics at Prague University. He also worked at the Prague Observatory. An observatory is a special place where scientists watch the stars and planets. He was an important member of the Royal Bohemian Society of Sciences. This was a group of smart people who studied science. He was their secretary from 1806 to 1831.

He also served as a dean at Charles-Ferdinand University. A dean is like a leader for a part of the university. He was also a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. In 1815, he received a special title: "Royal Astronomer." This meant he was the official astronomer for the king.

Legacy

A small asteroid in space was named after him. It is called 6385 Martindavid. This shows how important his work in astronomy was.