Erasmus Fröhlich (2 October 1700 – 7 July 1758) was an Austrian Jesuit mathematics teacher and numismatist. He also took an interest in history and astronomy. As a teacher at the

Theresianum Theresianum (or Theresian Academy; ) is a private Boarding school, boarding and day school governed by the laws for public schools in Vienna, Austria. It was founded in 1746 by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. History Early history (1614–1 ...

, he influenced a number of studies in the region in history, mathematics, and astronomy. He also served as the librarian at the Theresianum.

Life and work

Fröhlich was born in Graz and joined the Jesuit order at sixteen. After studies in Graz and Vienna he taught mathematics at Klagenfurt and Vienna. His mathematics students included

Karl Scherffer Karl Scherffer (9 November 1716 – 24 July 1783) was an Austrian Jesuit mathematician and natural scientist. He contributed works in mathematics, optics and astronomy. He promoted the mathematical works of Leonhard Euler and the natural philosoph ...

and He also began to collect coins and study them. This interest was inspired by Father Christian Edschlager who had worked in Turkey and Greece and Father Karl Granelli. He wrote on coinage between 1733 and 1737 in ''Quatuor tentamina in re nummaria vetere'' and related works. In 1744 he wrote on coinage related to the time of

Seleucus I Nicator Seleucus I Nicator (; Ancient Greek, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, ''Séleukos Nikátōr'', "Seleucus the Victorious"; ) was a Ancient Macedonians, Macedonian Greek general, officer and successor of Alexander the Great who went on to fo ...

''Annales compendiarii regum et rerum Syriae'' (1744). This work included some historic and theological views which were disputed by Leipzig scholar Gottlieb Wernsdorf. His work attracted the attention of Empress

Maria Theresia Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position in her own right. She was the sovereig ...

who appointed him teacher of history, archaeology and Greek at the Theresianum. His students included Count Coronini who wrote on the history of Gorizia and Istria and Georg Pray who wrote on Hungary. He collaborated with Maximilianus Hell (1720–1792) on astronomy and on optics with

Louis Bertrand Castel Louis Bertrand Castel (5 November 1688 – 11 January 1757) was a French mathematician born in Montpellier, who entered the order of the Jesuits in 1703. Having studied literature, he afterwards devoted himself entirely to mathematics and natura ...

. Other correspondents included Joseph Khell who succeeded him at the Theresianum and the astronomer Christian Rieger (1714–1780).

References

External links

Notitia. Elementaris. Nvmismatvm. Antiqvorvm. Illorvm. Qvae. Vrbium. Liberarvm. Regvm. Et. Principvm. Ac. Personarvm. Illvstrivm. Appellantvr.
(c. 1756) {{DEFAULTSORT:Fröhlich, Erasmus 1700 births 1758 deaths Austrian mathematicians Austrian numismatists