Olaus Romer

Ole Rцmer

Ole Rцmer was born in Aarhus, in Jutland, 25 Sept 1644. He was the son of a merchant named Christen Pedersen Rцmer. Ole was brought up in a Lutheran home.

His schooling was in what was guessed as Aarhus, Denmark and continued in Copenhagen at the University of Copenhagen in 1662 , where he studied under the Bartholin brothers Thomas (1616-1680, professor of mathematics and anatomy) and Erasmus (1625-1698, physicist and astronomer).

He lived, studied, and soon became the Son-In-Law of Erasmus Bartholin, who was impressed enough with his work to entrust to him the editing of Tycho Brahe's manuscripts. From 1664 to 1670 he edited Tycho's manuscripts. In 1671 he accompanied Bartholin and Jean Picard to Hveen to observe the position of Tycho's observatory, then (1672) accompanied Picard back to Paris where he was assigned lodgings in the Royal Observatory and worked under the auspices of the Acadйmie. It is generally assumed that he was a member of the Acadйmie.

Louis XIV appointed him to tutor the Dauphin in astronomy, and Roemer travelled around France making observations at the behest of the Acadйmie. Dansk Biografisk Leksikon says that he was admitted to the Acadйmie in 1671. The Professorship of Astronomy in Copenhagen was designated for him in 1677, and in 1681 Professor of Mathematics, University of Copenhagen. He was also appointed astronomer royal and director of the observatory. In addition, he served in a number of advisory roles to the

King, as master of the mint, harbor surveyor, inspector of naval architecture, ballistics expert, and head of a highway commission.

He was also a member of the privy council(1688), judiciary magistrate of Copenhagen(1693), chief tax assessor (1694), mayor of Copenhagen( Later, prefect of police as well.)(1705), named a senator (1705),and head of the state council of the realm(1706).

Rцmer died in Copenhagen, Denmark 19 Sept 1710 , at the age of 75.