Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg

Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg (born January 15, 1737 in Ober-Ramstadt ; † March 29, 1812 in Gotha ) was a four years older brother of the physicist and philosopher Georg Christoph Lichtenberg . Scientifically educated, he became secretary and secret assistant councilor at the court of Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg . He was responsible for the physical cabinet in Schloss Friedenstein , which he supplemented with his extensive collection of physical devices. Gotha was better equipped than Göttingen .

Lichtenberg had to inform the court and the bourgeoisie about new scientific developments. In addition, he gave experimental lectures and published new results. Like his brother in Göttingen, he introduced the lightning rod in Gotha. He thus strengthened Gotha's reputation as a “ Weimar of the natural sciences”. He also became known through his research into the Tironian notes , the shorthand from the time of Cicero .From 1781 to 1799 he published the magazine for the latest in physics and natural history , in which he also published his own articles.

Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg remained closely connected to his brother Georg Christoph all his life, and he also supported him financially. After his death, Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg edited the first edition of his brother's work together with the Gothic high school professor Friedrich Christian Kries . It was published between 1800 and 1806 in 9 volumes by the Göttinger Verlag Dieterich; Volumes I and II contain the first collection of aphorisms from the Sudel books , which established the brother's later fame.

Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg remained single and was appointed "Secret Legation Councilor" in Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg . In 1786 he was elected a corresponding member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences .

Publications

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg's mixed writings. After his death collected from the papers left behind and edited by Ludwig Christian Lichtenberg and Friedrich Kries. 9 volumes, Verlag der Dieterichschen Buchhandlung , Göttingen 1800 to 1806.
Selection from the Sudel books in volumes 1 and 2 sorted by subject area ; Digital copies ( Google Books ): Volume 1 , Göttingen 1800, Volume 2 , Göttingen 1801.
Magazine for the latest in physics and natural history . Ed .: LC Lichtenberg, JH Voigt, Gotha, vol. 1.1781 / 83-12.1799 ( digitized version , Bielefeld University Library )

credentials

^ Helmut Roob, Günter Scheffler: Gothaer Personalitäten , p. 81, Rhino-Verlag, ISBN 3-932081-37-4 , 2nd edition 2006
↑ Holger Krahnke: The members of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen 1751-2001 (= Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Philological-Historical Class. Volume 3, Vol. 246 = Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Mathematical-Physical Class. Episode 3, vol. 50). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2001, ISBN 3-525-82516-1 , p. 150.

personal data
SURNAME	Lichtenberg, Ludwig Christian
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German civil servant, naturalist
DATE OF BIRTH	January 15, 1737
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ober-Ramstadt
DATE OF DEATH	March 29, 1812
Place of death	Gotha

[1] Helmut Roob, Günter Scheffler: Gothaer Personalitäten , p. 81, Rhino-Verlag, ISBN 3-932081-37-4 , 2nd edition 2006

[2] Holger Krahnke: The members of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen 1751-2001 (= Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Philological-Historical Class. Volume 3, Vol. 246 = Treatises of the Academy of Sciences in Göttingen, Mathematical-Physical Class. Episode 3, vol. 50). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2001, ISBN 3-525-82516-1 , p. 150.