Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687)

Johannes Hevelius was born in Gdansk in 1611. His family were originally from Bohemia and spoke German, so his name is recorded in a number of ways, including Hawelke (used by his father), Hoefel or Hoefelius (used by Hevelius himself) and Heweliusz (the modern Polish form). In 1631, he signed his name as Johannes Hoeffelius Dantiscanus (i.e. from Gdansk), which presumably explains the “D” after his name on the front cover of the copy of Horace which he owned, held at Leeds University Library.

Hevelius was well educated, studying initially at the Gymnasium in Gdansk under Peter Crüger (who had himself been a pupil of Tycho Brae), from whom he gained his love of astronomy. In 1630 he moved to Leiden to study jurisprudence. He then travelled extensively in England and France before returning to Gdansk in 1634. His father owned a brewery, and he became one of the eminent brewers of the city. He was a town councillor of Gdansk for many years, and served as mayor.

However the solar eclipse of 1639 rekindled his interest in astronomy and he devoted more and more time to this, setting up an observatory on the roof of his house and gaining an international reputation. He published prolifically, including important works on sunspots, lunar topography and comets. He became a member of the Royal Society and in 1679, the young Edmund Halley visited him in Gdansk. In 1679, a fire destroyed his observatory, including all his instruments and books. He rebuilt and continued, but died eight years later, in 1687.