Jagiellonian university copernicus biography

Outline biography

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543): astronomer, economist, cartographer, physician, Warmian Canon

Born on 19 February 1473 in Toruń (Thorn) Nicolaus was the eldest son of a Toruń alderman, also Nicolaus (d.

after 18 July 1483), and Barbara Watzenrode, a daughter of a rich patrician, Lucas Watzenrode (d. 1462).

Jagiellonian university copernicus biography wikipedia

Copernicus’ ancestors came from Silesia and his father was first a Kraków merchant who had made his fortune in the copper trade with Gdańsk. He settled in Toruń in 1455 where he received his citizenship as a merchant and later became a city councillor of the Old Town of Toruń.

The future astronomer had an younger brother, Andreas, and two sisters: Barbara who later became a Benedictine nun and abbess in Chełmno (Culm), and Katharina who later married the city councillor Barthel Gertner (Gärtner).

Copernicus was baptized in the parish church of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist (presently the cathedral basilica) and started his formal educat