Copernicus Life

Birthdate

Feb 19, 1473

Born in the City of Thorn

Historical Events

Period: Feb 19, 1473 to May 24, 1543

Dad Died

Jan 1, 1483

Uncle took him in

Signed into the German Natio

Jan 1, 1496

A German-language correspondence between Copernicus and Duke Albert of Prussia has survived. Some German scholars assert that German should be considered Copernicus’ native language because Toruń was predominantly German-speaking, because a German-language correspondence has survived to illustrate his proficiency, and because, while studying law at Bologna in 1496, he signed into the German natio (Natio Germanorum), a student organization for German-speakers of all ethnicities, kingdoms

Moved to Frombork

Jan 1, 1510

Uncle Died

Mar 29, 1512

Participated in the election of Fabian of Lossainen as Prince-Bishop of Warmia

Apr 1, 1512

Heliocentric Model Proposed

Jan 1, 1514

Nicolai Copernici de hypothesibus motuum coelestium a se constitutis commentariolus was the name of this model. It was not released in full print until 1878

Wrote Monetae cudendae ratio

Jan 1, 1526

A study of the value of money

Copernicus had basically completed his work on the manuscript of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium

Jan 1, 1532

But despite urging by his closest friends, he resisted openly publishing his views, not wishing—as he confessed—to risk the scorn "to which he would expose himself on account of the novelty and incomprehensibility of his theses."

Nearly completed De revolutionibus orbium coelestium

Jan 1, 1532

But despite urging by his closest friends, he resisted openly publishing his views, not wishing—as he confessed—to risk the scorn "to which he would expose himself on account of the novelty and incomprehensibility of his theses."

Johann Albrecht Widmannstetter delivered a series of lectures in Rome outlining Copernicus' theory

Jan 1, 1533

Pope Clement VII and several Catholic cardinals heard the lectures and were interested in the theory.

Nikolaus Cardinal von Schönberg, Archbishop of Capua, wrote to Copernicus from Rome

Nov 1, 1536

Some years ago word reached me concerning your proficiency, of which everybody constantly spoke. At that time I began to have a very high regard for you... For I had learned that you had not merely mastered the discoveries of the ancient astronomers uncommonly well but had also formulated a new cosmology. In it you maintain that the earth moves; that the sun occupies the lowest, and thus the central, place in the universe... Therefore with the utmost earnestness I entreat you, most learned sir,

Georg Joachim Rheticus, a Wittenberg mathematician, arrived in Frombork

Jan 1, 1539

Copernicus was still working on De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (even if not convinced that he wanted to publish it) when in 1539 Georg Joachim Rheticus, a Wittenberg mathematician, arrived in Frombork. Philipp Melanchthon, a close theological ally of Martin Luther, had arranged for Rheticus to visit several astronomers and study with them.

Rheticus published a treatise on trigonometry by Copernicus

Mar 11, 1542

Later included in the second book of De revolutionibus

Copernicus' "Commentariolus" summarized his heliocentric theory

Jan 1, 1543

It listed the "assumptions" upon which the theory was based as follows: 1. There is no one center of all the celestial circles or spheres. 2. The center of the earth is not the center of the universe, but only of gravity and of the lunar sphere. 3. All the spheres revolve about the sun as their mid-point, and therefore the sun is the center of the universe. 4. The ratio of the earth's distance from the sun to the height of the firmament (outermost celestial sphere containing

Death

May 24, 1543

Died in Frauenbuerg.Legend has it that the first printed copy of De revolutionibus was placed in his hands on the very day that he died, allowing him to take farewell of his life's work. He is reputed to have awoken from a stroke-induced coma, looked at his book, and then died peacefully.