Knorre Karl Khristoforovich (Ernstovich) General data:
09.04.1801 - 08.02.1883
Place of birth: Dorpat city, Livonian province, Russian Empire (now Tartu City, Republic of Estonia)
Studied in: Dorpat University, Livonian province, Russian Empire (since 1919 Tartu University, Estonian SSR and since 1991 the Republic of Estonia) (1817 -1821);
Key interests: observational astronomy, theology, geodesy
Biography:
He was born March 28 (according to the Julian calendar and April 9 by the Gregorian calendar or. haw other data other data saying, it happaned on September 4) in 1801 in Dorpat city of Livonian province of Russian Empire (now Tartu City of Republic of Estonia). He is Ernst Christoph Knorre's son who was Professor of Mathematics in University of Dorpat and who was born in Haldensleben city in Germany. Then he was ten-year boy, he lost his father and later his uncle brings maternal Charles Augustus Senff, taking the widow of the system of paying child who was also a teacher of painting at Tartu University. Charles began to help his mother, giving lessons in mathematics and Latin, he gave the fees paid for mothers and their learning.
In 1812 he joined the Derpt gymnasium.
He received his scientific education in mathematics and astronomy at the University of Tartu, where at that time taught in German, entered January 1, 1817 to the theological faculty at the request of his uncle, studying mathematics and astronomy in addition to their own official program. Goettingen then was a symbol and example of German universities. Studying at the 2nd year, he became an assistant to V. Ya Struve at the University Observatory and topographical works on the ground. In particular, he was a table of the provisions of the Arctic Star, which was the main source of observation of comets and in 1821-1827 the coverage of stars by the Moon. As a result, he got acquainted with the topographical methods in the area and the methodology of astronomical and geodetic observations to determine the azimuth, as well as the longitude and latitude of individual points, which was useful to him later. July 7, 1820 on the recommendation of the Director of Dorpat Observatory and professor of astronomy at the University of Tartu V. Ya. Struve young scientist was appointed sea astronomer Black Sea Fleet in Nikolaev city. When May 27, 1821 first in southern sea Astronomical Observatory was established, and found a candidate for director of the Observatory, on the recommendation V. Ya. Struve. it became K.H. Knorre. In the early years of his stay in the young scientist to the construction of the observatory is not involved. After graduating from university in 1821, he taught at the navigating college (as a fifth-class astronomer taught in the Black Sea navigating company at the college), conducted surveillance at the Astronomical Observatory of Admiral O. Greig. In particular, geographic latitude of the Greig's observatory was specified, the positions of the stars α and δ of the Little Urodae (Ursae Minoris) for each day since 1823 to 1830, which were widely used at the time during field astronomical and geodetic works, was calculated. During May-September 1822 the astronomer carried out the first hydrographic campaign on the orders of Admiral AS Gray was carried out on a yacht "Tverda", upon his return it was announced that June 3, 1822. he was given the rank of Kolezhsky Assessor.
Although Karl did not get a full education in astronomy, but he was able to prepare for the demands of service in the Black Sea Fleet through hard self-study, using talented creative ingenuity and intelligence. On his own initiative, he made a 2-year journey through Western Europe during the 1825 -1827 to learn about best practices and tools for astronomy, astronomers, and the greatest creators of the best telescopes and instrumentation that time. So after returning to Nikolaev, he was ready to take on independent solutions to various problems in their position. And he shall carry out hydrographic expedition, hiking in the Black Sea and adjacent seas for seagoing fleet cards, install and ensure the operation of all equipment, including custom in Europe to carry out certification of navigation devices. In addition, he had to teach practical astronomy Cadets navigator college to study their methods astronomical orientation at sea. Despite the complexity of the tasks assigned to it and obligations, K. Knorre brilliantly performed all the tasks proposed for sea astronomer and moreover conducted research on existing astronomical telescopes and instruments.
Back to Nikolaev in August 1827 except for teaching mate in college he starts to care about the issues related to the completion of the Observatory, whose director he became. Abroad a number of astronomical instruments were acquired . The observatory was equipped meridian circle Oertel, transit instrument, Fraunhofer refractor (basic astronomical instruments) that are not inferior equipment best observatories in Europe and assistive devices. Astronomical Observatory played a major role in providing scientific and practical needs of the Black Sea Fleet, becoming astronomical center for sailors hydrographs. Here zviryalysya watches, compasses and other equipment necessary for navigation. Observatory led hydrographic work, study and description of the Seas, measuring depths assembly sailing, all officers navigators Black Sea Fleet were disciples of Karl Knorre. Launched in 1822 working with detailed measurements of the Black, Azov and Marmara seas and straits that connect them, and the rivers, they flow into them, continued for several decades under the supervision and with the participation K.Knorre. Only in the 1822-1824 more than 20 points the Black Sea were astronomical definition. To describe the Azov and Black Seas which was conducted by Ye. Manhanari in 1826-1836 years 332 points were defined by latitude and longitude, including 74 of them by astronomical method (latitude determined by sectarian or portable transit instrument, longitude determined by using chronometers). Karl Knorre together with the director of the Black Sea depot maps captain second rank M.Berhom corrected "working" nautical maps of the seas, which accounted for naval officers. This great work lasted thirty years and ended with the creation of accurate maps brothers Manhanari.
Significant work was performed Karl Knorre by for Russian All-teritorial Weather Service. Since 1824 he regularly presented to the Academy of Sciences monthly weather data which were in start data of situation in Nikolaev, and then around the southern region . But the construction of a meteorological observatory, which began in 1832, have not been completed, and in 1839 for lack of funds the building was demolished. In the 40 years of the ХІХ century the question of work of Observatory again raised.
Along with important practical work undertaken by Nikolaev Observatory, chief astronomer was busy and scientific. Karl Knorre took part in an international project Berlynskoyi Academy of Sciences assembling satin sky. This work continued for many years, but it is the 5th piece of sky maps ( from 3 h<\sub>56m<\sub> to 5h<\sub>54m<\sub> in RA and from -15 ° to + 15 ° slope), compiled by Karl Knorre using meridian telescope Reichenbach-Oertel (D = 102 mm, F = 914 mm), differs completeness and accuracy. Astronomer determined the position of many comets, including Halley's comet when it appears in 1835 Through his calculations were discovered two small planet Astrea and Flora. Observatory held regular observation of stars to study their coordinates and obtain the exact time.
In 1828 he was elected a corresponding member of the Imperial (St. Petersburg), Russia Academy of Sciences, 1839 took part in the opening of the Main Astronomical Observatory in Pulkovo, 1846 he elected a member of the Russian Geographical Society, 1848 he foreign member of the British Royal astronomical Society, 1863 he a member of the German astronomical Society. Astronomer surveyor was awarded the Order of the Russian Empire: in 1829 he got Order St. Volodimer 4th degree, in 1837 he got Order St. Stanislaus 3rd degree, in 1843 he got Order St. Stanislaus 2 nd degree,in 1858 he got Order St Anne 2- degree, in 1864 he got Order St. Vladimir 3rd degree, in 1866 he got Order St. Stanislaus 1 st Class, in 1870 he got Order Order of St. Anne 1 degree.
It should be noted that in addition to St. Petersburg, which he visited, for example, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pulkovo observatory July 22, 1864, he was on a business trip and also visited Kyiv.
When MNykolayev Observatory lost its naval appointment, task its director, respectively, were also changed. In 1862 he was appointed director of temporal courses organized in two different schools where he began teaching astronomy.
In his scientific legacy Karl Hristoforovich Knorre left more than 70 reports of observations of eclipses of the Sun, Jupiter and stars coating month passage of Mercury across the solar disk, observations of comets, articles corrective star maps, methods and results of determining the coordinates on land and sea, etc.
Karl Knorre participated in drafting the statute to the local high school in Nikolaev, as well as the establishment of special education classes for cadets and non-commissioned officers, organized study talented children from low-income families. Karl Knorre many years was the chief attorney of the Russian Society of capital and property insurance in southern Russia. Authority Knorre as military pastor was very high, many officers appointed him as their spiritual father. Management noble city assembly in 1859 chose Knorre an honorary member.
Karl Knorre had a large family: he was father of sixteen children (11 children and 5 daughters, and some sources even 17 children), being married three times, although same reason (maybe not all lived up to that time and had no descendants, at least we know that two of them, the daughter of Emma at the age of 18 and young son George from his third wife died during the epidemic typhus during the Crimean War 1853-1858), only 12 of them were included in the definition of Kherson deputy noble assembly April 30, 1870, the . in the third part of the Noble genealogical books Kherson province and given there were made on the basis of evidence submitted metric Evangelical Lutheran Ministry. All his children were educated abroad, and one of the sons, Victor, extended family dynasty astronomers.
In 1871 sea astronomer resigned with the rank of Vice Admiral in connection with the disease. He was succeeded Kortatstsi I.E. By order of the Maritime Authority of 12 (24) June 1871 р. № 776 he was awarded a privy councilor. He and his family left Germany and settled in Berlin, where February 8 , 1883 he died. Оther data saying that it happened July 21 or September 10.
Time spent retired astronomer was also quite prolific science: January 4, 1876 discovered asteroid №158 - Koronys and April 7, 1880 it was discovered asteroid №215.
Areas of his scientific work were astronomy, geodesy and cartography. Astronomer wrote more than 70 scientific papers and articles.
He had a German. French and Russian.
It is also known as a poet. In particular, the poetry of Charles Knorre song "Lyutsynda", was written in German and published in Dorpat in 1821
Main publications:
1. Carl Knorre ; Dorpat (Livland) ; Johann Joachim Christian Schünmann ; 1821Deutsch ; 18.–19. Jh. ("Russische Zeit")
2. Кнорре К. Х. Лекции практической астрономии, читанные в Черноморской штурманской роте. Вып. 1. Интерполяция. - Николаев. — 1855. — 34 с.
3. Кнорре К. Разрешение треугольников. — Николаев.— 1832. — 68 с., 1 л. черт.
4. Кнорре К. Наставление для сыскания широты места, погрешности, инструмента и состояния часов по методу Гаусса. — Николаев. — 1832. — 19 с.
Sources:
1 Династия астрономов Кнорре / Г. И. Пинигин, С. Ф. Эраль. - Николаев : Вид-во Ірини Гудим, 2009. - 148 с.
2 Deutschbaltisches Biographisches Lexikon 1710–1960. Hrsg. von Wilhelm Lenz. Wedemark: Verlag Harro von Hirschheydt, 1998, S. 392. [Deutsch]
3 Gottzmann, Carola L.; Hörner, Petra. Lexikon der deutschsprachigen Literatur des Baltikums und St. Petersburgs vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart. Bd. 2: H-M. Berlin-New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2007, S. 702-703. [Deutsch]
4 Allgemeines Schriftsteller- und Gelehrtenlexikon der Provinzen Livland, Esthland und Kurland. Hrsg. von Johann Friedrich von Recke, Karl Eduard Napiersky. Bd. 2. Mitau : Steffenhagen und Sohn 1829, S. 466. Napiersky, C.[arl] E.[duard], Beise, Theodor. Nachträge und Fortsetzung, Bd. 1. Mitau : Steffenhagen und Sohn 1859, S. 310-312. [Deutsch]
