Germany, Dessau, pharmacist, astronomy, botanic, meteorologist
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Samuel Heinrich Schwabe was born as the eldest of 11 children of a
doctors family in Dessau/Germany. His father was doctor of the Duke, his
mother daughter of the local pharmacist. At age 7 he came to school (Dessauer Hauptschule) where he got to know philantrophism and humanism, being supported by Leopold III. Friedrich Franz, Fürst von Anhalt-Dessau. From 1809 he studied at the "königlich-preußischen Universität in Berlin". After his father died he returned to Dessau and continued the pharmacy of his father to feed the family. |
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After some heavy times Schwabe followed his interest in botanic and
astronomic knowledge more intensively. In 1825 he won his first
telescope in a lottery, began to document some observations and in the
same year got a better telescope from the well-known physicist Joseph von Frauenhofer. In 1829 he sold the house he inherited including the pharmacy and bought the corner house in Johannisstraße 18, which is still the www.SchwabeHaus.de today. From the observatory under the roof he made intensive astronomical observations for over 43 years and documented them precisely. AMong other things he discovered the periodicity of the sun eruptions (every 11 years) and is well-known among astonomists world-wide with this. He published his findings in the "Astronomical News" so Alexander von
Humboldt visited his observatory. Through Humwith whom he had a boldt
Schwabe became teacher of the dukes children, where he met his wife whom
he marrie din 1841. Her brother brought him together with Professor Encke (direktor
of the Berlin Observatory and well-known astronome) with whom he
had an intensive dialogue over a long time. |
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Besides his astronomical studies he made botanical research and
published this in the unique work (two volumes) „Flora Anhaltina“. HIs
herbarium still contains 3350 plants which he found on his international
journeys and from the Dessau parks. The herbarium is in the Dessau
museum now. |
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Schabe's regular publication of metereological observations in the "Anhaltischen Staatsanzeiger"
are another prof for his precise and continuous work on scientific field.
He was one of the founders of the natural historic association Dessau
about 1840. The "Schwabeverein" of the local "high school" has a very nice web page presenting Schwabe. |
| He presented his opinions in a difficult time politically speaking as deputee of the burgois fraction in Dessau, he was protocollist in the city assembly and had diverse functions. His book „Politische Begebenheiten meines Lebens“ is still an impressive testimonial about the political opinions of Schwabe's time. | |
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Despite heavy podagra he supported his family. after only 14 years of matrimony his wife Amalie died. He was honoured with the title "Hofrat" and by the order of "Albrecht
des Bären". He was honour member of several scientific associations and
member of the „Royal Astronomical Society“ in
London. From there he got the highest honour with the "big golden medal"
which was handed out to him by the famous sun scientist Richard
C. Carrington in Dessau. Schwabe gave his records to the Society and his
machines to the "Dessauer Herzoglichen Gymnasium" for a little rent. He died at April 11, 1875 and his grave is on the historical cimetery of Dessau/Germany. |
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The Schwabe-Haus is an active association with many interesting functions: Web site of the Schwabe-house: www.SchwabeHaus.de |
See article in Deutsches Ärzteblatt: http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/archiv/artikel.asp?src=suche&id=52322