The Collegium Carolinum (also known as ) was a scientific institution in

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...

, Germany. It was founded in 1709 by

Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Charles of Hesse-Kassel (; 3 August 1654 – 23 March 1730), member of the House of Hesse, was the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 to 1730. Childhood Charles was the second son of William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, and Hedwig Sophi ...

and closed after the 1785 death of

Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Frederick II () (14 August 1720 – 31 October 1785) was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) from 1760 to 1785. He ruled as an enlightened despot, and raised money by renting soldiers ( called "Hessians") to Great Britain to help fight ...

. The

Ottoneum The Ottoneum in Kassel, Germany was the first theater building built in Germany and is now a museum of natural history. History The Ottoneum was built in 1606 under Landgrave Moritz by the architect William Vernukken. The name 'Ottoneum' comes ...

housed most of its activities. However, a new

anatomical theatre An anatomical theatre (Latin: ) was a specialised building or room, resembling a theatre, used in teaching anatomy at early modern universities. They were typically constructed with a tiered structure surrounding a central table, allowing a larg ...

, the first in Germany, was used by

Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring (28 January 1755 – 2 March 1830) was a German physician, anatomist, anthropologist, paleontologist and inventor. Sömmerring discovered the macula in the retina of the human eye. His investigations on the bra ...

. The Collegium Carolinum was founded as a "new kind of university", where mathematics, the sciences, anatomy and geography should be more important compared to the classical humanist subjects taught at the nearby

University of Marburg The Philipps University of Marburg () is a public research university located in Marburg, Germany. It was founded in 1527 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, which makes it one of Germany's oldest universities and the oldest still operating Prote ...

. In 1766, it was reorganised into a polytechnic by Frederick II and concentrated more on the arts and applicable sciences.

Notable professors

Georg Forster Johann George Adam Forster, also known as Georg Forster (; 27 November 1754 – 10 January 1794), was a German geography, geographer, natural history, naturalist, ethnology, ethnologist, travel literature, travel writer, journalist and revol ...

, naturalist *

Johannes von Müller Johannes von Müller (3 January 1752 – 29 May 1809) was a Swiss historian. Biography He was born in Schaffhausen, where his father was a clergyman and rector of the gymnasium. In his youth, his maternal grandfather, Johannes Schoop (1696–1 ...

, historian *

Johann August Nahl Johann August Nahl (22 August 1710 in Berlin – 22 October 1781 in Kassel) was a German sculptor and plasterer. He was first taught by his father, Johann Samuel Nahl (1664–1727), who had been court sculptor of Frederick I of Prussia, Fre ...

, sculptor *

Simon Louis du Ry Simon Louis du Ry (13 January 1726 in Kassel - 23 August 1799 in Kassel) was a classical architect. Biography Simon Louis du Ry was the son of the Huguenot architect Charles du Ry and grandson of Paul du Ry of Kassel. He was from a French ref ...

, architect *

, anatomist *

Johann Heinrich Tischbein Johann Heinrich Tischbein (3 October 1722 – 22 August 1789) was a German painter. He was one of the most respected European painters in the 18th century and an important member of the Tischbein family of German painters, which spanned three ge ...

, painter

References

1709 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Organisations based in Kassel Defunct universities and colleges in Germany {{Germany-university-stub

Notable professors

See also

References