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Article ID: CBB299426198

“Knowledge gained by experience”: Olaus Henrici—engineer, geometer and maker of mathematical models (2021)

Barrow-Green, June (Author)

Historia Mathematica
Volume: 54
Pages: 41-76

URI: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0315086020300744

DOI: 10.1016/j.hm.2020.10.003

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Interdisciplinary approach to knowledge Models and modeling in science Geometry Engineers 19th century Denmark Henrici, Olaus

The German mathematician Olaus Henrici,1 who was born in Denmark in 1840, studied engineering and mathematics in Germany before making his career in London. Initially, and for only a short time, he worked in an engineering business. He subsequently took on academic positions, first at University College London and then, from 1884, at the newly formed Central Institution (later Central Technical College) where he established a Laboratory of Mechanics. While at University College he became an active promoter of pure geometry and a producer of models of surfaces. In this paper I explore the geometrical side of Henrici's work, setting it into the context of his career and arguing that his interdisciplinary background was a key factor in his success as a creator of models. Zusammenfassung Der deutsche Mathematiker Olaus Henrici,2 der 1840 in Dänemark geboren wurde, studierte Technikwissenschaften und Mathematik bevor er in London Karriere machte. Anfangs arbeitete er kurze Zeit als Ingenieur. Dann fand er akademische Stellungen, zuerst am University College London und dann, aber 1884, an der gerade entstandenen Central Institution (später Central Technical College) wo er ein Laboratorium für Mechanik gründete. Am University College wurde er ein aktiver Forscher in reiner Geometrie und Entwickler von Modellen mathematischer Flächen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit untersuche ich die geometrische Seite von Henricis Wirken, ordne es in den Kontext seiner Karriere ein und argumentiere, dass sein multidisziplinärer Hintergrund ein entscheidender Faktor für seinen Erfolg als Schöpfer mathematischer Modelle war.

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