52
4 Observator and Professor
4.2 Professor in Groningen
As I described in Chap. 1, Kapteyn’s chair was specially created as a result of
a new law on higher education. The University of Groningen did not have a
dedicated professor of astronomy before then; astronomy was taught starting
with the founding of the university in 1614 by the States of ‘Stad en Ommelanden’ (‘City and Surrounding Lands’, now more or less the province of
Groningen). Ubbo Emmius (1547–1625), who was the first Rector Magnificus, had in that year appointed Nicolaus Mulerius (1564–1630) as professor
of medicine and Greek, but soon he was designated to teach mathematics,
which also covered astronomy. Mulerius is best known for his annotated reissue of the book De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, in which Nicolaus
Copernicus (1473–1543) set out his heliocentric worldview. This is remarkable. This period was dominated by the religious disputes on the issue of
predestination between the Remonstrants (in Dutch know as ‘Rekkelijken’ or
non-dogmatic ones), the followers of Jacobus Arminius (1555–1609), and the
Counter-remonstrants (‘Preciezen’ or dogmatic ones), followers of Franciscus
Gomarus (1563—1641). In this the University of Groningen had usually chosen the side of the Counter-remonstrants. Mulerius was a strict Calvinist as well
and—at least to the outside world—a supporter of the old geocentric worldview. His painting in the Senate Room in the Groningen Academy Building
(Fig. 4.4) shows him with two instruments in his hands to demonstrate spherical astronomy, the description of positions and orbits on the celestial sphere.
After Mulerius astronomy had always been taught, sometimes by professors
who had much interest in it, sometimes by others who considered it simply a
task without any special appeal. There had been talk at some time of building
an observatory, but the necessary funds were never found. Astronomy courses
did not get beyond practical lessons on the roof of the Academy building
(see Fig. 4.5), sometimes with the help of a small telescope (that was privately
owned!).
After the introduction of the Higher Education Act of 1876, the Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences regarded the appointment of a professor
of astronomy as its highest priority, although the professor would also have to
teach other subjects, such as statistics, meteorology and theoretical mechanics.
Rudolf Adriaan Mees (1844–1886), professor of physics (see Fig. 4.6), but who
also taught astronomy, needed urgently to be relieved of some of his tasks.
The Faculty sent a nomination for an astronomy professor to the curators on
November 19, 1877. There were five candidates (soliciting applications was
not done at that time). From these, Kapteyn was the first choice and the second
possibility was Charles Matthieu Schols (1849–1897). Schols was an engineer
4 Observator and Professor
4.2 Professor in Groningen
As I described in Chap. 1, Kapteyn’s chair was specially created as a result of
a new law on higher education. The University of Groningen did not have a
dedicated professor of astronomy before then; astronomy was taught starting
with the founding of the university in 1614 by the States of ‘Stad en Ommelanden’ (‘City and Surrounding Lands’, now more or less the province of
Groningen). Ubbo Emmius (1547–1625), who was the first Rector Magnificus, had in that year appointed Nicolaus Mulerius (1564–1630) as professor
of medicine and Greek, but soon he was designated to teach mathematics,
which also covered astronomy. Mulerius is best known for his annotated reissue of the book De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, in which Nicolaus
Copernicus (1473–1543) set out his heliocentric worldview. This is remarkable. This period was dominated by the religious disputes on the issue of
predestination between the Remonstrants (in Dutch know as ‘Rekkelijken’ or
non-dogmatic ones), the followers of Jacobus Arminius (1555–1609), and the
Counter-remonstrants (‘Preciezen’ or dogmatic ones), followers of Franciscus
Gomarus (1563—1641). In this the University of Groningen had usually chosen the side of the Counter-remonstrants. Mulerius was a strict Calvinist as well
and—at least to the outside world—a supporter of the old geocentric worldview. His painting in the Senate Room in the Groningen Academy Building
(Fig. 4.4) shows him with two instruments in his hands to demonstrate spherical astronomy, the description of positions and orbits on the celestial sphere.
After Mulerius astronomy had always been taught, sometimes by professors
who had much interest in it, sometimes by others who considered it simply a
task without any special appeal. There had been talk at some time of building
an observatory, but the necessary funds were never found. Astronomy courses
did not get beyond practical lessons on the roof of the Academy building
(see Fig. 4.5), sometimes with the help of a small telescope (that was privately
owned!).
After the introduction of the Higher Education Act of 1876, the Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences regarded the appointment of a professor
of astronomy as its highest priority, although the professor would also have to
teach other subjects, such as statistics, meteorology and theoretical mechanics.
Rudolf Adriaan Mees (1844–1886), professor of physics (see Fig. 4.6), but who
also taught astronomy, needed urgently to be relieved of some of his tasks.
The Faculty sent a nomination for an astronomy professor to the curators on
November 19, 1877. There were five candidates (soliciting applications was
not done at that time). From these, Kapteyn was the first choice and the second
possibility was Charles Matthieu Schols (1849–1897). Schols was an engineer