Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was born on 19th February 1473 in Torun, near the Vistula River in eastern Poland and died on 24th May 1543 in Frauenburg (now Frombork), Poland. The original form of his name was Mikolaj Kopernik or Nicolaus Koppernigk. He was commonly known by his Latin name, Nicholas Copernicus, Mikolaj Kopernik is regarded as "The Father of Astronomy". During his life, he was both Cleric and Astronomer. That's why he was seen as a confused person on religion and science.

When Copernicus was ten years old his father died. His uncle, Lucas Watzenrode took Copernicus and his brother Andreas under his protection. Watzenrode, bishop of the chapter of Ermland, made plan for Nicolaus Copernicus's education and his future career as a church canon.

In 1488 he was sent by his uncle to the cathedral school of Wloclawek where he received a good standard humanist education.

In 1491 Copernicus entered the University of Krakow, where he became interested in the study of astronomy. While a student at the University of Krakow, he discovered several logical contradictions in the existing astronomical system taught at that time, which put the earth at the center of the universe.

He returned to Torun after four years of study at Krakow but, didn't formally graduate with a degree. His uncle Lucas Watzenrode was still determined that Copernicus should have a career in the Church and indeed this was a profession which would allow security for someone wanting to pursue leaning. So that he might have the necessary qualifications Copernicus decided to go to the University of Bologna to take a degree in canon law. As a native German speaker he joined the "German Nation of Bologna University". Each student contributed to the "German Nation" an amount they could afford and the small contribution that Copernicus made indicates his poor financial position at that time.

During 1497 while he was there his uncle put his name forward for the position of canon at Frauenburg Cathedral. Copernicus then received official notification of his appointment as a canon and of the comfortable income he would receive without having to return to carry out any duties.

At Bologna University Copernicus studied Greek, mathematics and astronomy in addition to his official course of canon law. He rented rooms at the house of the astronomy professor Domenico Maria de Novara. Copernicus' geographical and astronomical interests were stimulated by this guy. Copernicus began to undertake research with him and assisted him in making observations. Together, the two men observed the Moon eclipse the star Aldebaran.

Later when studying medicine and religious law at Bologna University, he pursued further investigations of the movements of celestial bodies, especially the moon. His direct observations, coupled with research based on various Greek and Latin astronomical writings, prompted him to originate the Copernican system of the structure of the universe. This theory placed the sun at the center of the solar system and the earth in orbit around it.

He visited Rome in 1500 for the great jubilee celebration and stayed there for a year lecturing to scholars on mathematics and astronomy. He returned to Frauenburg in the spring of 1501 and was officially installed as a canon of the Ermland Chapter. He had not completed his degree in canon law at Bologna so he requested his uncle, Bishop of Ermland that he would return to Italy both to take a law degree and to study medicine. Copernicus promised to study medicine, and would some day advise bishop and also the members of the Chapter.

He set off again for Italy, going to Padua. Copernicus had another reason to return to Italy, which he certainly did not disclose, and that was to continue his studies of astronomy. Padua was famous for its medical school and while he was there Copernicus studied both medicine and astronomy.

As a result of his studies in Krakow and Padua, Copernicus may be said to have mastered all the knowledge of the day in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and theology.

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