Maria margarethe kirch biography of georgetown

She favors the Copernican system the idea that the sun is at rest like all the learned astronomers of our time. And it is a pleasure to hear her defend that system through the Holy Scripture in which she is also very learned. She observes with the best observers and knows how to handle marvelously the quadrant and the telescope. After her husband died inKirch attempted to assume his place as astronomer and calendar maker at the Royal Academy of Sciences.

Her actions were representative of a well established principle that allowed widow's to take over their husbands craft after their death. She couched her application in the terms acceptable to the times, arguing that she was well-qualified because she had been instructed by her husband in astronomical calculation and observation. She emphasized that she had engaged in astronomical work since her marriage and had worked at the academy since her husband's appointment ten years earlier.

In her petition Kirch said that "for some time, while my dear departed husband was weak and ill, I prepared the calendar from his calculations and published it under his name. She even clarified this in her petition, explaining that her husband had not left her with sufficient means in terms of supporting herself and her family.

In the old guild tradition of trades, it would have been possible for Kirch to take over her husband's position after his death, but the new institutions of science tended not to follow that tradition. Leibniz was the only prominent figure that supported her appeal. Unfortunately, negative opinion towards her gender outweighed her history of competent work.

The Berlin Academy of Sciences secretary Johann Theodor Jablonski cautioned Leibniz "that she be kept on in an official capacity to work on the calendar or to continue with observations simply will not do. Leibniz later tried to secure housing and salary for Winkelmann in and was able to secure housing for Winkelmann to stay in for an undetermined amount of time, however the Academy denied Leibniz's petition for Winkelmann's salary.

Maria margarethe kirch biography of georgetown

Later inthe academy relented upon Maria enough to give her a medal for her work in astronomy. Kirch felt sure that her petitions were denied due to her gender. This is somewhat supported by the fact that Johann Heinrich Hoffmannwho had little experience, was appointed to her husband's place instead of her. Hoffmann soon fell behind with his work and failed to make required observations.

It was even suggested that Kirch become his assistant. Inshe published Die Vorbereitung zur grossen Oppositiona well-received pamphlet in which she predicted a new comet, followed by a pamphlet concerning Jupiter and Saturn. InKirch accepted the patronage of Bernhard Friedrich von Krosigkwho was an enthusiastic amateur astronomer, and began work in his observatory.

She and her husband had worked at Krosigk's observatory while the academy observatory was being built. At Krosigk's observatory she reached the rank of master astronomer. After Baron von Krosigk died in Kirch moved to Danzig to assist a professor of mathematics for a short time before returning to Berlin in She had trained her son Christfried Kirch and daughters Christine Kirch and Margaretha Kirch to act as her assistants in the family's astronomical work, continuing the production of calendars and almanacs as well as making observations.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Her husband, Gottfried, undoubtedly taught her as well. Religion Affiliation: Lutheran Lutheran 6. Scientific Disciplines Primary: Astronomy She discovered the comet of Secondary: Patronage Inshe married the astronomer Gottfried Kirch. She worked with him regularly, making observations and especially doing calculations.

The latter contained both astrological and astronomical observations and some have claimed that it leaned towards the former. However, Alphonse des Vignoles, president of the Berlin Academy, said in her eulogy: "Madame Kirch prepared horoscopes at the request of her friends, but always against her will and in order not to be unkind to her patrons.

However, the Royal Academy's council refused to let her do this and in fact did not even consider the possibility before she petitioned them, as they were reluctant to set a precedent. The only person who supported Maria was the then president of the Academy, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who had long encouraged her and had arranged for her to be presented to the royal court of Prussia in where she made a good impression as she discussed sunspots.

Even Leibniz's support was insufficient to change the Academy's mind even though Maria had been left without any income. Maria was of the opinion that her petitions were denied due to her gender. This is somewhat supported by the fact that Johann Heinrich Hoffmann, who had little experience, was appointed to her husband's place instead of her.

Hoffmann soon fell behind with his work and failed to make required observations and it was even suggested that Maria become his assistant. Maria wrote: Now I go through a severe desert, and because However, she was admitted by the Berlin Academy of Sciences. However, she soon went to work for a family friend, Bernhard Friedrich Baron von Krosigk, who was an enthusiastic amateur astronomer.

She worked in his observatory and trained her son and daughters to act as her assistants and continued the family's astronomical work of producting calendars and almanacs as well as making observations. Maria and her daughter, Christine, became his assistants, but academy members complained that she took too prominent a role. Maria refused to take a back seat during her visits to the observatory and was subsequently forced to retire and give up her home, which was sited on the observatory's grounds.

Maria continued working in private but conditions eventually forced her to abandon all astronomical work and she died in Berlin in