Ignacije Szentmartony facts for kids

Ignacije Szentmartony was a very smart and adventurous man from Croatia. He lived from 1718 to 1793. He was a Jesuit priest, which is a type of Catholic priest. He was also a mathematician, an astronomer, an explorer, and a mapmaker. He traveled far to South America and helped map new lands.

Early Life and Education

Ignacije Szentmartony was born on October 28, 1718. His birthplace was Kottori, which is now called Kotoriba in Croatia. His mother was Croat and his father was Hungarian.

When he was 17, in 1735, he joined the Jesuit order in Vienna, Austria. He was a very dedicated student. He studied in both Vienna and Graz, also in Austria. He was so good at math that he even taught it there!

Royal Mathematician and Explorer

By 1751, Szentmartony was in Lisbon, Portugal. He became known as a royal mathematician and astronomer. This was a very important title. Because of his skills, he joined a big expedition. This group was tasked with drawing new borders between Portuguese and Spanish colonies in South America.

Journey to the Amazon

In 1753, Father Szentmartony sailed to Brazil. He went right into the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. He spent years exploring this huge river and its surrounding areas. He used his knowledge of astronomy to figure out exact locations. This was very important for making accurate maps.

Mapping New Lands

Szentmartony's surveys were incredibly useful. Based on his work, other engineers and mapmakers created detailed maps. For example, in 1755, engineers Schwebel and Sturm made a map called Mappa Geographico dos Rios. This map showed the riverbeds, small islands, and settlements. It was one of the first really good maps of that area.

Between 1754 and 1756, he explored the Amazon and the Rio Negro. He gathered a lot of information. His work helped people understand the geography of these remote regions much better.

Speaking Up and Later Life

Ignacije Szentmartony was a kind person. He saw how the local native people were treated unfairly by the colonizers. He strongly spoke out against this. Because he stood up for what was right, his expedition faced problems.

He stayed in South America as a missionary in a place called Ibyrajuba. However, in 1760, he was sent back to Europe with other Jesuits. He was even put in prison for a while. He was finally released in 1777. This happened thanks to the help of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

In 1773, the Jesuit religious order was stopped for a time. Szentmartony returned to Croatia in 1780. He became a priest in Belica. He passed away in Čakovec in 1793.