Peter Henlein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Henlein
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Peter Henlein
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| Born | 1485 Nuremberg
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| Died | 1542 (aged 56–57) Nuremberg
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| Monuments | Hefnersplatz (Nuremberg), by Max Meißner (1905) |
| Nationality | German |
| Other names | Peter Hele, Peter Henle |
| Occupation | master locksmith, watch maker |
| Era | German Renaissance |
| Known for | Inventor of the watch |
| Spouse(s) | Kundigunde Ernst, (first wife) Maragarete (second wife) Walburga Schreyer (Third wife) |
| Parents |
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| Family | Herman Henlein (older brother) |
Peter Henlein (1485 – August 1542) was a locksmith and clockmaker from Nuremberg, Germany. Many people consider him the inventor of the watch. He was one of the first to create small, portable clocks. These clocks were often worn as pendants or attached to clothes. They are seen as the very first watches. Some sources incorrectly say he invented the mainspring, but it existed before his time.
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Peter Henlein's Early Life
Peter Henlein grew up in Nuremberg, a city in Germany. His father, also named Peter Henlein, was a brass forger. His mother was Barbara Henlein. Peter had an older brother, Herman, who became a master cutler. Peter Henlein was married three times during his life. His wives were Kunigunde Ernst, Margarethe, and Walburga Schreyer.
He likely trained as a locksmith when he was young. Locksmiths at that time had the skills and tools needed to start making clocks.
On September 7, 1504, Peter Henlein was involved in an argument. Another locksmith, Georg Glaser, died during this event. Peter Henlein sought safety in the Franciscan Monastery in Nuremberg. He stayed there until 1508. This monastery was known for its scientific and astronomy studies. He might have learned more about clockmaking during his time there.
Creating Portable Clocks
Peter Henlein became famous for making small, portable clocks. These clocks were powered by springs and made of brass. They were very rare and expensive. Rich people often wore them as pendants or attached them to their clothes. These are considered the first watches.
He was the first craftsman to put clockworks inside "Bisamköpfe." These were small, decorative containers called pomanders. People used pomanders to hold fragrances or disinfectants. Watches made this way are now called pomander watches. In November 1509, he became a master in the city's locksmith guild. City records show he supplied these small clocks as gifts for important people. The oldest known watch, the Watch 1505, is a pomander watch from 1505. Many believe Henlein made it.
In 1529, Henlein traveled to Strasbourg to get a sky globe for the Nuremberg council. Six years later, he made a watch for the Nuremberg council. He also built a tower clock for Lichtenau castle in 1541. He was also known for building advanced astronomical tools.
Peter Henlein passed away in August 1542. He was buried at the Katharinenkirche, Nuremberg.
How Peter Henlein Was Recognized
One of the first important tributes to Peter Henlein came in 1511. Johannes Cochläus, a well-known writer of that time, praised Henlein and his watches. He wrote:
"Every day the craftsmen of Nuremberg invent finer things. For example, Peter Hele (Henlein), still a young man, makes clocks that even the smartest mathematicians admire. From just a little bit of iron, he makes clocks with many wheels. No matter how you turn them, they show and chime the hours for forty hours without any weight. You can even carry them on your chest or in a handbag."
In 1547, Johann Neudörfers wrote that Henlein invented the portable pomander watches.
During his life, Henlein made many watches and instruments. A document from 1524 shows he was paid 15 florins for a gold pomander watch. His customers included important people like Martin Luther, Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, and Philip Melanchthon. The Nuremberg Council also gave his watches as gifts.
Celebrating His Legacy
In 1905, the German Watchmakers’ Association and the City of Nuremberg celebrated the 400th anniversary of the pocket watch. A special watch exhibition was held in Nuremberg. Awards called Henlein medals were given for outstanding works.
The Peter Henlein Fountain was revealed when the watch exhibition opened. The city and the watchmakers’ association donated the fountain. Its inscription says: "IN MEMORY OF THE INVENTOR OF THE POCKET WATCH PETER HENLEIN FROM THE CITY OF NUREMBERG AND THE GERMAN WATCHMAKERS ASSOCIATION."
Peter Henlein became widely known as the inventor of the watch in the 1800s. This was partly due to a novel by Karl Spindler called Der Nürnberger Sophokles. This book was later made into a film in 1939 called "The Immortal Heart". In 1942, Germany even released a stamp honoring him. It said: "Peter Henlein - Inventor of the Watch."
Even earlier, in 1842, the Walhalla memorial in Donaustauf honored Peter Henlein. This memorial celebrates important German figures. At its opening, it called him the "inventor of the watch." This happened to be the 300th anniversary of his death.
- Walhalla memorial
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The Mainspring's Role
The mainspring is what made portable clocks possible. While many people think Peter Henlein invented it, the mainspring actually appeared in the early 1400s. This was almost a century before Henlein's work.
Even though he didn't invent the mainspring, Henlein's watches were special. He made the parts, like the torsion pendulum and coil spring, much smaller. He put them together in a new way that allowed the watch to work in any position. This amazing miniaturization and new design made him the inventor of the watch as we know it.
Pomander Watches and Nuremberg Eggs
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Peter Henlein did not create the typical "Nuremberg eggs." He mainly made portable pomander watches. While "Nuremberg eggs" are linked to Henlein's time, they became popular several decades after he died.
The German word Eierlein means "little egg." This word came from a mistake in how the word for "clock" was said. The word for clock, Uhr, was sometimes said as Aeurlein or Ueurlein. In 1571, a translation of François Rabelais by Johann Fischart used Eierlein instead of Ueurlein. This might be why the oval shape became popular for watches in the 1580s.
Jürgen Abeler, a former watchmaker and art collector, wrote about pomander watches. He concluded that if any preserved watch could be linked to Peter Henlein, it would be a watch inside a pomander.
Nuremberg's Creative Spirit
Nuremberg had a special atmosphere during the early German Renaissance. A famous saying at the time described different European cities:
"If I had Venice's power, Augsburg's splendor, Nuremberg's esprit, Strasburg's weapons and Ulm's money, I would be the richest man in the world."
"Nuremberg's esprit" meant its creative spirit. It was open to new ideas and good at figuring out new things. As a citizen of Nuremberg, Peter Henlein lived in this exciting environment. The city's strong metalwork and fine mechanics crafts helped him develop his amazing skills. The Renaissance in Nuremberg was full of energy from trade, new discoveries, and cultural influences.
Peter Henlein likely found the idea for the Oriental pomander in the monastery. The plague had struck Nuremberg in 1505. Pomanders, as a symbol of status, became important to many high-ranking people. In a time of new ideas, it must have been exciting to put the "spirit of time" (a clock) inside a fragrance holder.
Peter Henlein's Impact
Peter Henlein was a talented German forger, locksmith, and watchmaker. Despite challenging times, he had a vision and the skill to create a timepiece that could be worn on the body. This was a big step beyond just making table clocks smaller. He turned this idea into a wearable, personal invention.
Peter Henlein in Popular Culture
Peter Henlein appears as a main character in the 2022 novella History Crusaders by the Improv Guys.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Henlein para niños
