Poleni

Giovanni Poleni

Born: 23 Aug 1683 in Venice, Italy
Died: 15 Nov 1761 in Padua, Italy

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Poleni studied first philosophy and then theology in Venice. He began a judicial career but, after being introduced to mathematics and science by his father, he went on to accept the chair of astronomy at the University of Padua in 1709. In 1715 he became, in addition to his astronomy chair, professor of physics.

Poleni was invited to investigate the problem of hydraulics relating to the irrigation of Lower Lombardy.

He was appointed to the chair of mathematics at Padua in 1719 which had been vacated by Nicolaus Bernoulli. In 1738 he acquired a laboratory to conduct physics experiments and began to lecture on this topic.

Poleni worked on hydraulics, physics, astronomy and archaeology. He conducted meteorlogical observations. His work was honoured by the award of a number of prizes, for calculating the distance travelled by a ship, for a study of ship's anchors, and for a study of cranes and windlasses.

References:

  1. Dictionary of Scientific Biography
  2. E de Tipaldo (ed.), Poleni, Biografia degli Italiani illustri (Venice, 1834). 
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