Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1450/1486 (page 1432)
    KEPLER KER CKHERDERE Court of Chancery in Ireland.” In 1856 he became a judge of the common pleas. Died September 30, 1878. Kepler, k£p'ler, or Keppler, [Lat. Keple'rus,] (Johann,) a celebrated German astronomer, born at or near Weil, in Wurtemberg, on the 27th of December, 1571. His father, Henry Kepler, lost nearly all his prop¬ erty by becoming surety for a friend, and was reduced to the position of tavern-keeper at Elmendingen. About 1586 he entered the monastic school of Maulbronn, where he was educated at the expense of the Duke of Wurtemberg. He continued his studies at Tubingen, which he quitted in 1591 with the degree of master. In 1594 he was appointed professor of mathematics at Gratz, in Styria. He published, under the title of “Mysterium Cosmographicum,” (1596,) an account of his inquiries and speculations in relation to the number, distances, and periodic times of the planets. In 1597 he married a widow named Barbara von Muller. Kepler and the other Protestant professors were driven from Gratz by persecution about 1600. He visited Tycho Brahe, who then resided near Prague, and who intro¬ duced him to the emperor Rudolph. At the request of Rudolph, he began to assist Tycho in the formation of astronomical tables; but his relations with that astrono¬ mer were not very agreeable to either. On the death of Tycho, in October, 1601, Kepler suc¬ ceeded him as principal mathematician to the emperor, with a salary of 1500 florins, and inherited his unpub¬ lished observations. He published in 1604 an important contribution to the science of optics, entitled a “ Supple¬ ment to Vitellio.” After he obtained the patronage of the emperor he resided for some years at Linz. In 1609 he produced his greatest work, “Astronomia nova, seu Physica celestis tradita Commentariis de Motibus Stellae Martis,” in which he announced two of the laws which regulate the periods and motions of the planets, and which are known as Kepler’s Laws. These are : 1, that the orbits of the planets are elliptical; 2, the radius- vector, or line extending from a planet to the sun, de¬ scribes or passes over equal areas in equal times; 3, the squares of the periodic times of planets are proportional to the cubes of their mean distances from the sun. “These laws constitute undoubtedly,” says Sir John Herschel, “ the most important and beautiful system of geometrical relations which have ever been discovered by a mere inductive process, independent of any con¬ sideration of a theoretical kind. They comprise within them a compendium of the motions of all the planets, and enable us to assign their places in their orbits at any instant of time, past or to come.” “This beautiful and simple law,” says Professor Playfair, in reference to the third law, “had a value beyond what Kepler could pos¬ sibly conceive ; yet a sort of scientific instinct instructed him in its great importance. He has marked the year and the day when it became known to him: it was on the 8th of May, 1618.” His third law was discovered with infinite satisfaction in 1618, and announced in his “ Harmonice Mundi,” (1619,) the title and contents of which recall the ideas of Pythagoras on celestial har¬ mony. Kepler imagines that in this music of the spheres Saturn and Jupiter perform the bass, Mars the tenor, and the Earth and Venus the haute-contre. He con¬ sidered the sun to be the source of motion as well as of light and heat. The treasury of the emperor was so exhausted by war that Kepler could not obtain the pay¬ ment of his salary, and often felt the pressure of poverty. After the death of Rudolph, (1612,) he was appointed professor of mathematics at Linz. His first wife having died, he married Susanna Rettinger, about 1614. In 1620 he was visited by Sir Henry Wotton, an English ambassador, who invited him to remove to England; but he declined. He expended the labour of several years on his “ Rudolphine Tables,” which were published in 1627 and were highly prized. Among his important works is his “ Dioptrica,” (1611,) in which he describes the astronomical telescope with two convex lenses. The invention of this form of telescope is ascribed to him. Kepler was so devoted to science, and had so little re¬ gard for riches, except those of the mind, that he used to say he would rather be the author of the works he had written than possess the duchy of Saxony. He died at Ratisbon in November, 1630, leaving four sons and three daughters. See Drinkwater Bethunb, “Life of Kepler,” in the “Library of Useful Knowledge;” Breitschwerd, “Keplers Leben und Wir- ken,” 1831: Sir David Brewster, “Martyrs of Science,” 1841; Arago, “ Notices biographiques,” tome ii.; Dr. F. Hoefer, article in the “ Nouvelle Biographie G4ndrale “ Foreign Quarterly Re¬ view” for June, 1835; “Atlantic Monthly” for April, i860. Kepler, (Ludwig,) a German physician, son of the preceding, was born at Prague in 1607. He practised at Bale, Strasburg, and Konigsberg, and wrote several works. Died in 1663. Keplerus. See Kepler, (Johann.) Kep'pel, (Augustus,) an English admiral, son of William, Earl of Albemarle, was born in 1725. In 1761, as commander of a small squadron, he captured Belle- Isle, and the following year was created rear-admiral of the blue. In 1778 he became admiral. He was subse¬ quently raised to the peerage, as Viscount Keppel, Baron Elden, and was twice appointed first lord of the admi¬ ralty. He was accused by Sir Hugh Palliser of neglect of duty in an action against the French in July, 1778, and was tried by a court-martial, by which he was honourably acquitted. Died in 1786. Keppel, (Lady Caroline,) the reputed author of the popular song “ Robin Adair,” was born in Scotland about 1735. She was the daughter of the second Earl of Al¬ bemarle, and married Robert Adair, an Irish surgeon, in opposition to the wishes of her family. Keppel, Earl of Albemarle. See Albemarle. Keppel, (George Thomas,) an English officer, born in 1799, was a son of the Earl of Albemarle. He was elected to Parliament in 1832 and in 1847, and in 1851 succeeded to the earldom. He published a “Journey across the Balkan.” Died January 31, 1891. Keppler. See Kepler. Kepp'l$r, (Joseph Ferdinand,) a distinguished cari¬ caturist, born in Vienna, (Austria,) February 2, 1838. After working as a photographer, caricaturist, and suc¬ cessful comedian, he came to the United States about 1869, and was a theatrical manager at Saint Louis. In 1873 he became connected with a weekly periodical in New York, and in 1876 founded “ Puck,” a well-known and successful comic paper. Died February 19, 1894. Ker, ker or kar, (John,) of Kersland, a Scottish philologist, was professor of Hebrew at Edinburgh. He was employed as a political agent by William III., and published “Memoirs and Secret Negotiations,” (3 vols., 1726.) He was born in 1673, and died in 1726. Ker, (John,) an eminent bibliographer, born in London in 1740, was the son of Robert, Duke of Roxburgh, whom he succeeded in 1755 in the Scottish dukedom, and also in the British peerage as Earl and Baron Ker of Wakefield. He died in 1804. In the accumulation of his library, which is said to have been the most valuable private collection in Great Britain, he exhibited remarkable industry and rare judgment. The sale of these books after his death produced a great sensation in the lite¬ rary world. One—“ 11 Decamerone di Boccaccio”—was sold for ^2250. Ker, (Robert.) See Carr. Ker Porter. See Porter, (Robert Ker.) Keralio, de, deh k^h-rt'le'o', (Louis Ftfi.ix Guine ment—gin'mdN',) a French officer and litterateur, born in Brittany in 1731. He wrote, besides other works, one upon the “General Principles of Tactics.” Died in 1793- Keratry, de, deh ki'ri'tRe', (Auguste Hilarion,) a French litterateur and statesman, born at Rennes in 1769. He was twice chosen a member of the Chamber of Deputies, in 1818 and in 1827, and was made a peer in 1837. Among his principal works are “ Moral and Physi¬ ological Inductions,” (1817,) and several romances and poems. Died in 1859. Keratry, de, (Emile,) Count, a French author, born at Paris in 1832. He served in the army 1854- 65, and subsequently was in public life for a few years. He wrote “ A bon Chat bon Rat,” (1856,) “ La Vie de Club,” (1S62,) t: A Travers le passe,” (1887,) etc. Kerckherdere, k?Rk'h$R'deh-reh, (Jan Geraart,) a Dutch philologist and theologian, born near Maestricht