1701-1744

Swedish Astronomer and Mathematician

Anders Celsius opened Sweden to modern European science and initiated reforms in his country's astronomy curriculum. Known as the founder of Swedish astronomy, he is today remembered for establishing the centigrade scale, which bears his name.

Celsius was born in Uppsala on November 27, 1701. He studied astronomy and mathematics, and in 1725 became secretary of Uppsala's Scientific Society. After teaching mathematics for a few years he succeeded his father as professor of astronomy at Uppsala University (1730).

An ecclesiastical ban on teaching of Copernican theory and lack of astronomical instruments in Sweden obliged Celsius to travel abroad to complete his studies and practical training. His first stop was the new observatory in Berlin where he assisted Christfried Kirch (1694-1740) in taking observations (1732-33). He then traveled to Nuremberg where he initiated an international astronomical review and published his aurora boerealis observations. He then visited...