Teodor Christian Brorsen

29.7.1819 – 31.3.1895 

Theodor Brorsen was a famous Danish stargazer and astronomer of the 19th century, who spent a significant part of his scientific career in the astronomical observatory at Žamberk Castle. He worked here as an astronomer in the service of Baron John Parish. He made his mark in the history of science with the discovery of five comets, star clusters, nebulae and many other partial observations and discoveries. He received several honours from King Christian VIII of Denmark for his work.

 

Theodor Brorsen (1819─1895) was born in Denmark on the island of Als into a well-to-do ship captain's family. He studied high school and also at a church school founded by the Moravian Brothers in Christianfeld. At his mother's request he studied law, but this did not satisfy his curious nature, which yearned for knowledge of the laws of nature, especially of celestial phenomena and the stars. After studying law, he decided to study natural sciences and then began working at the astronomical observatory in Kiel and then in Hamburg-Alton. Here he achieved his first scientific successes, discovering three previously unknown comets for which he received a prize from King Christian VIII of Denmark. At this time, Baron John Parish decided to establish a private astronomical observatory in Žamberk, Bohemia, and Theodor Brorsen was recommended by his teacher in Hamburg to become its chief astronomer. So the Danish astronomer found himself in the castle in Žamberk and continued his research in a very modern observatory. He discovered two more comets and made many descriptions of the motion of stars, sunspots, dealt with zodiacal light, discovered a star cluster in the constellation Snake and a nebula in the constellation Orion. After several scientifically very fruitful years, however, Brorsen met with bad luck. His benefactor and protector, Baron John Parish, died. The heirs did not want to continue this wasteful scientific pastime and sold off the observatory equipment. Brorsen had to work privately with his own instruments, and eventually left Bohemia altogether. He returned to his native Denmark, where he led the strange life of a recluse and never returned to his former astronomical glory. After his death, two comets and an asteroid were named after him. 

 

References

PETERSEN, H. R.: Theodor Brorsen. Astronom, Nordborg 1986.

 

ŠMERAL, J.: Theodor Christian Brorsen. Biografický slovník českých zemí 7, Praha 2007, s. 197─198.

 

VESELÝ, J., SKŘIVÁNEK, M.: K dějinám hvězdárny v Žamberku. Pomezí Čech, Moravy a Slezska: sborník prací ze společenských a přírodních věd. Litomyšl 2005, s. 209─233.

PH