Theodor Thon

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Theodor Thon (born May 14, 1792 in Eisenach , † November 17, 1838 in Jena ) was a German naturalist and writer.

Theodor Thon.jpg

Life

After graduating from high school in Eisenach, Thon studied natural sciences from 1808 at the University of Jena (perhaps also at the University of Leipzig ) . He particularly devoted himself to mineralogy . In 1810 he became a member of the Corps Saxonia Jena . Temporary estate manager, he was appointed Dr. on October 10, 1811 in Jena. phil. PhD . A little later he was allowed to work as a private lecturer in natural history in Jena without habilitation . He gave up the position in autumn 1813 and returned to Eisenach. He took on various private administrative offices there. In 1816 he was employed as a registrar at the Grand Ducal Provincial Directorate. Unsatisfied with this activity, he asked for his dismissal at the beginning of 1821 and moved to Weimar to work on scientific works in the regional industrial office. He also perfected himself in drawing and also learned the art of copperplate engraving .

The old desire for a chair at the state university drove him back to Jena in 1824. Now known through his scientific and technical books, he received royal permission in June 1827 to hold private natural science lectures at the university again without further formalities. Her subjects were extraordinarily diverse: natural history, the collection of scientific bodies, mineralogy, zoology, entomology, architecture, technology, the art of engraving and shorthand. His appointment as associate professor in 1834 did little to improve Thon's financial situation. He was still dependent on literary work. The connection established around 1824 with Bernhard Friedrich Voigt's publishing bookstore became important .

Thon was married three times. One son became a drawing school director in Weimar , another doctor in Queensland .

shorthand

Thon was the first academic teacher to study shorthand . He titled the invitation to his lectures: About the benefits of shorthand, especially about the advantages it affords students (Jena 1827). As a student, Thon had acquired and revised the geometric stenography system from Carl Gottlieb Horstig (1763-1835). He published a sketch of the system in this version in his "Lebensmeß- und Invoice Art" (Ilmenau 1825). Franz Xaver Gabelsberger's Guide to German Speech Marking (1834) he discussed in detail in Gersdorf's Repertory of the Entire German Literature . He tried to mediate between the old geometric and the new italic direction of shorthand. The manuscript of this elaboration is lost.

Bibliophile engraver

Most of the copper plates for his books were engraved by Thon himself. He also provided many drawings and engravings for other people's works, e. B. on W. Dietrich's “Germany's Poison Plants” (1826).

Works

  • Geographical Trade Lexicon , 2 volumes. Schmalkalden 1823; new edition Leipzig 1831
  • Historical-geographical archives , 1st volume (Jena 1825)
  • The art of filming in its entirety . Ilmenau 1825; 5th edition Weimar 1855
  • Illustrations of foreign insects , I, issue 1: Beetles (Jena 1826)
  • The building painter and decorator . Ilmenau 1826
  • Handbook for natural collectors . Ilmenau 1827
  • The botany in its practical application to business customers for merchants etc Ilmenau 1828
  • Textbook of the art of engraving, the art of engraving in steel and cutting in wood . Ilmenau 1831
  • Textbook of the art of tearing or principles of drawing science . Ilmenau 1832; 2nd edition Weimar 1840
  • The insects depicted in faithful illustrations and with a detailed description . Leipzig 1835 ff.
  • The natural history of domestic and foreign butterflies . Leipzig 1837
  • General economic-technological art and craft dictionary, 2 parts. Leipzig 1838-1840
  • German universal cookbook , 2 parts. Leipzig 1840

Thon tried his hand at fiction under the pseudonym "Guido Romito" . He wrote the novella "Berta or love and the voice of the beyond" (Eisenberg 1825) and the stories "Der Meisterschlag" and "'s hat one beaten" (Leipzig 1836).

literature

Web links

Commons : Theodor Thon  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikisource: Theodor Thon  - Sources and full texts

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kösener corps lists 1910, 127/91
  2. ↑ Dissertation: Draft of a new system of minerals, etc. (handwritten)
  3. ↑ founded in Sondershausen in 1812, moved to Ilmenau in 1822, to Weimar in 1834, to Leipzig in 1898
personal data
SURNAME Thon, Theodor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Guido Romito (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German naturalist
DATE OF BIRTH May 14, 1792
PLACE OF BIRTH Eisenach
DATE OF DEATH November 17, 1838
Place of death Jena