Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger
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| Born | 5 February 1795 |
| Died | 19 March 1871 (aged 76) Dornbach, Vienna, Austrian Empire
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Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger (born February 5, 1795, died March 19, 1871) was an important Austrian scientist. He was mostly known as a mineralogist, someone who studies minerals. He also made big contributions to geology and physics.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Wilhelm Haidinger's father, Karl Haidinger, was also a mineralogist. Sadly, his father died when Wilhelm was only two years old. Young Wilhelm likely became interested in rocks and minerals from his father's books and collection.
His uncle, Jakob Friedrich van der Nüll, had an even bigger and more valuable collection. A famous professor named Friedrich Mohs from Germany was asked to describe it. Wilhelm often met Professor Mohs at his uncle's house.
After finishing his early schooling, Wilhelm, at 17, was asked by Professor Mohs to be his assistant. This was at the new Universalmuseum Joanneum in Graz, Austria.
A Career in Science
For the next eleven years, Wilhelm Haidinger worked closely with Professor Mohs. He became more and more involved in scientific work.
In 1821, Wilhelm Haidinger published his first scientific paper. It was about how copper-pyrites form crystals. This was the start of about 350 scientific papers he would write! He also published several books, including a guide to minerals and the first full geological map of Austria-Hungary.
Travels and Discoveries
In 1822, Wilhelm Haidinger went on a six-month trip across Europe. He visited cities like Paris, London, and Edinburgh. In Edinburgh, a banker named Thomas Allan helped him translate Professor Mohs's book on mineralogy into English. This book, Treatise on Mineralogy, came out in 1823.
Haidinger stayed in Edinburgh until 1825. He met many important scientists there, including the physicist David Brewster. During these years, Haidinger was very productive. He wrote 33 scientific papers. While he was there, a new mineral was even named "Haidingérite" after him!
In 1825 and 1826, he traveled again to countries like Norway, Sweden, and Germany. He met many top scientists in Berlin, including chemists Friedrich Wöhler and Eilhard Mitscherlich.
Return to Austria
In 1827, Wilhelm Haidinger returned to Austria. He became a director at a porcelain factory owned by his brothers. Even with this job, he kept up his mineralogy research. He published about 24 papers during this time. One paper described ancient fossil plants found near the factory.
Leading Mineralogy in Vienna
In 1840, Haidinger moved to Vienna. He took over from his old teacher, Professor Mohs, as the director of the mineral collection. This collection was part of the "Kaiserlich-Königlichen Hofkammer im Münz- und Bergwesen."
Haidinger was very dedicated to science. He even started a scientific group called "Freunde der Naturwissenschaften in Wien" (Friends of Natural Sciences in Vienna). He was its founder and president. He published their findings from 1840 to 1850. Besides his work at the museum and teaching, he published about 105 more papers between 1849 and 1860.
Understanding Dolomite
Haidinger studied "pseudomorphosis." This is when one mineral changes into another, but keeps the original mineral's shape. For example, anhydrite might change into gypsum, but still look like anhydrite.
He was very interested in how calcium carbonate (like limestone) could change into dolomite. Dolomite is a mineral made of calcium magnesium carbonate. He thought this change could happen at low temperatures.
However, chemists like Friedrich Wöhler and Eilhard Mitscherlich told him that dolomite powder could react with calcium sulfate (gypsum) at room temperature to form calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate.
Haidinger asked his employee, Adolph von Morlot, to test this in the lab. Von Morlot's experiments showed that dolomite only forms from calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate at very high temperatures (over 250 degrees Celsius) and high pressures. This proved that a minimum temperature is needed to create dolomite.
A Leader in Geology
A big moment in Haidinger's career was in 1849. He helped create the "Kaiserlich-Königliche geologische Reichs-Anstalt" (Imperial-Royal Geological Survey) in Vienna. Wilhelm Haidinger became its first director. This new office became the center of geological research in Austria-Hungary.
Haidinger's motto showed his unselfish attitude: "Advancement of science, not monopolisation of research." He wanted science to grow for everyone.
Political Involvement
Haidinger also played a key role in starting other scientific groups. These included the Austrian Geographical Society and geological societies in Hungary and Italy. He believed these independent scientific groups were very important.
In 1860, Haidinger was surprised to read in the newspaper that his Geological Survey was going to be combined with another academy. He felt the two groups were too different. After some time, the government decided not to force the two groups together. This allowed Haidinger to continue his important work.
In 1866, Wilhelm Haidinger became very ill and retired. Even after retiring, he kept studying, focusing on meteorites.
Awards and Recognition
Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria-Hungary honored Wilhelm Haidinger greatly. He was made a knight ("Ritter von Haidinger") in 1864. He also received high awards from the King of Prussia, the King of Bavaria, and the King of Sweden.
Even though he never finished a full university degree, he received honorary doctorates from the Charles University in Prague and the University of Jena.
Wilhelm Haidinger passed away at his home in Vienna on March 19, 1871.
Optical Research
- Haidinger fringe
See also
- Haidinger's brush
