Mårten Strömer was professor in astronomy and Bergman’s former teacher. Professor
Daniel Melander (later ennobled Melanderhjelm; 1726–1810) was mathematician
and astronomer. Miss Ullrika Klingenstierna was a daughter of Samuel Klingenstierna. Three godparents were absent: Nils Sahlgren from Gothenburg (apparently a
relative to Bergman’s mother), Bergman’s former teacher Bengt Ferner, and Bergman’s mother, Sara Bergman. Sadly, their son died on August 21 only five months
old. According to Hjelm, the cause of death was dysentery [9]. He was buried three
days later on the northern part of the cemetery reserved for university staff.
A second son, Carl Olof, was born on April 22, 1774 but died only two weeks
later, on May 6. A more modest list of godparents suggests that the parents had little
hope for their infant son’s life. Bergman was now 39 and his wife 38; they would
not get another child. Bergman seems to have worked hard during this traumatic
period, possibly in order to distract his thoughts. He must have been working on the
second edition of his Physical Description of the Earth and The Chemical Lectures
of H.T. Scheffer. He also published a number of papers, including his paper on
aerial acid, his student Level presented his thesis, and he also edited Scheele’s paper
on manganese. All of this happened during Scheele’s period in Uppsala. Bergman
also invited his mother, who lived her last years with him in Uppsala and died there
in 1776, aged 80 [10].
References
1. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 65
2. Trofast J (1994) Johan Gottlieb Gahn: brev, vol 2, Lund, p 54
3. Af Petersen H (1928) Om Torbern Bergmans och C. W. Scheeles franska förbindelser,
Personhistorisk tidskrift, 191–201
4. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 59
5. Bergman T (1780) Analyse et examen chimique de l’indigo, tel qu’il est dans le commerce,
pour l’usage de la teinture. Piece qui a concouru pour le prix sur la nature & l’usage de
l’indigo, Mémoires de mathématique et de physique, présentés à l’Academie Royale des
Sciences, 9:121–164
6. Anonymous (1769) Om tall- eller furu-skogen KVA Handl 30:257–272
7. Bergman T (1769) Uplysning om skadelige tall-maskarne KVA Handl, 30:272–276
8. Bergman T (1779) Anmärkningar om bi, förnämligast i anledning af vägnings försök, KVA
Handl, 40:300–329
9. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 90
10. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 7
192
12 Bergman’s Life as Professor
Daniel Melander (later ennobled Melanderhjelm; 1726–1810) was mathematician
and astronomer. Miss Ullrika Klingenstierna was a daughter of Samuel Klingenstierna. Three godparents were absent: Nils Sahlgren from Gothenburg (apparently a
relative to Bergman’s mother), Bergman’s former teacher Bengt Ferner, and Bergman’s mother, Sara Bergman. Sadly, their son died on August 21 only five months
old. According to Hjelm, the cause of death was dysentery [9]. He was buried three
days later on the northern part of the cemetery reserved for university staff.
A second son, Carl Olof, was born on April 22, 1774 but died only two weeks
later, on May 6. A more modest list of godparents suggests that the parents had little
hope for their infant son’s life. Bergman was now 39 and his wife 38; they would
not get another child. Bergman seems to have worked hard during this traumatic
period, possibly in order to distract his thoughts. He must have been working on the
second edition of his Physical Description of the Earth and The Chemical Lectures
of H.T. Scheffer. He also published a number of papers, including his paper on
aerial acid, his student Level presented his thesis, and he also edited Scheele’s paper
on manganese. All of this happened during Scheele’s period in Uppsala. Bergman
also invited his mother, who lived her last years with him in Uppsala and died there
in 1776, aged 80 [10].
References
1. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 65
2. Trofast J (1994) Johan Gottlieb Gahn: brev, vol 2, Lund, p 54
3. Af Petersen H (1928) Om Torbern Bergmans och C. W. Scheeles franska förbindelser,
Personhistorisk tidskrift, 191–201
4. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 59
5. Bergman T (1780) Analyse et examen chimique de l’indigo, tel qu’il est dans le commerce,
pour l’usage de la teinture. Piece qui a concouru pour le prix sur la nature & l’usage de
l’indigo, Mémoires de mathématique et de physique, présentés à l’Academie Royale des
Sciences, 9:121–164
6. Anonymous (1769) Om tall- eller furu-skogen KVA Handl 30:257–272
7. Bergman T (1769) Uplysning om skadelige tall-maskarne KVA Handl, 30:272–276
8. Bergman T (1779) Anmärkningar om bi, förnämligast i anledning af vägnings försök, KVA
Handl, 40:300–329
9. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 90
10. Hjelm PJ (1786) Åminnelse-tal öfver…Herr Torbern Bergman, Stockholm, p 7
192
12 Bergman’s Life as Professor