Pingré was born in Paris but was educated by the canons regular of the Abbey of St. Vincent in Senlis, Oise, where he entered the community at the age of sixteen. In 1735, after his ordination as a priest, he was appointed professor of theology at the school. He soon, however, came under suspicion of subscribing to Jansenism and was summoned by the Bishop of Pamiers, by whom he was rebuked and required to submit to an interrogation by a committee of Jesuits.[1]
In 1745 King Louis XV called a General Chapter of the Congregation of Canons Regular of St. Genevieve to which Pingré belonged. He commanded the election of a canon who would enforce the royal policy against Jansenist teachings. Participation in the chapter required an oath of obedience to the papal bullUnigenitus, which had been issued to condemn those teachings. Pingré and several other canons of Senlis objected to the chapter and were removed from their positions of responsibility in the congregation. He subsequently was assigned to serve only in rural parishes.[1]
Scientistedit
At an early age Pingré had developed an interest in astronomy, and in 1749 he was appointed professor of astronomy at the newly founded Academy of Rouen. He would eventually be appointed the librarian of the Abbey of St Genevieve in Paris, and the university's chancellor. At St. Genevieve he would build an observatory, and continue to work there for forty years.[1]
Unfortunately Pingré suffered from poor health and eyesight, so his observing skills were limited, but he did earn a reputation as an excellent mathematician. He came to the attention of the scientific community when he detected an error of four minutes in Lacaille's computation of a 1749 lunar eclipse. After observing a transit of Mercury, he was made a corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences. In 1757 he became interested in comets and published a substantial treatise on the theory and observational history of comets.
Subsequently he published a nautical almanac based on the work of Pierre Charles Lemonnier containing lunar tables. During the 1761 transit of Venus, Pingré went on one of the three observing campaigns organized by the Académie Royale, travelling to Rodrigues Island near Madagascar, which was unsuccessful.[1][2] Pingré's subsequent discounting of Giovanni Battista Audiffredi's observations led to a scientific dispute.[3]
In 1767 he sailed to the Baltic with Charles Messier to test marine chronometers. Two years later he joined a successful expedition to Haiti to observe the Venus transit of 1769. In 1771 he took part in the scientific mission of the frigateFlore, under Lieutenant Verdun de la Crenne, along with Borda.
Pingré was left impoverished upon the suppression of his monastery in the French Revolution. He was able to continue publishing his work until his death in 1796, however, through the support of fellow astronomer, Jérôme Lalande, who obtained for him a grant of 3,000 francs from the National Assembly.[1]
Bibliographyedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Alexandre Guy Pingré
État du Ciel, 1754–1757.
Cométographie; ou, Traité historique et théorique des comètes, 1783.
Projet d'une histoire d'astronomie du dix-septième siècle. 1756–1786.
^"The Natural History and Human Drama of the 18th and 19th century Transit Expeditions to Mauritius and Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean", a talk by Anthony Cheke
^The 1761 transit of Venus dispute between Audiffredi and Pingré (PDF), Luisa Pigatto
March 17, 2024
alexandre, pingré, september, 1711, 1796, french, canon, regular, astronomer, naval, geographer, born4, september, 1711, paris, died1, 1796, aged, paris, occupationastronomer, librarian, composer, traveler, geographer, contents, early, life, scientist, death, . Dom Alexandre Guy Pingre 11 September 1711 1 May 1796 was a French canon regular astronomer and naval geographer Alexandre Guy PingreBorn4 September 1711 Paris Died1 May 1796 aged 84 Paris OccupationAstronomer librarian composer traveler geographer Contents 1 Early life 2 Scientist 3 Death 4 Bibliography 5 See also 6 NotesEarly life editPingre was born in Paris but was educated by the canons regular of the Abbey of St Vincent in Senlis Oise where he entered the community at the age of sixteen In 1735 after his ordination as a priest he was appointed professor of theology at the school He soon however came under suspicion of subscribing to Jansenism and was summoned by the Bishop of Pamiers by whom he was rebuked and required to submit to an interrogation by a committee of Jesuits 1 In 1745 King Louis XV called a General Chapter of the Congregation of Canons Regular of St Genevieve to which Pingre belonged He commanded the election of a canon who would enforce the royal policy against Jansenist teachings Participation in the chapter required an oath of obedience to the papal bull Unigenitus which had been issued to condemn those teachings Pingre and several other canons of Senlis objected to the chapter and were removed from their positions of responsibility in the congregation He subsequently was assigned to serve only in rural parishes 1 Scientist editAt an early age Pingre had developed an interest in astronomy and in 1749 he was appointed professor of astronomy at the newly founded Academy of Rouen He would eventually be appointed the librarian of the Abbey of St Genevieve in Paris and the university s chancellor At St Genevieve he would build an observatory and continue to work there for forty years 1 Unfortunately Pingre suffered from poor health and eyesight so his observing skills were limited but he did earn a reputation as an excellent mathematician He came to the attention of the scientific community when he detected an error of four minutes in Lacaille s computation of a 1749 lunar eclipse After observing a transit of Mercury he was made a corresponding member of the Academie des Sciences In 1757 he became interested in comets and published a substantial treatise on the theory and observational history of comets Subsequently he published a nautical almanac based on the work of Pierre Charles Lemonnier containing lunar tables During the 1761 transit of Venus Pingre went on one of the three observing campaigns organized by the Academie Royale travelling to Rodrigues Island near Madagascar which was unsuccessful 1 2 Pingre s subsequent discounting of Giovanni Battista Audiffredi s observations led to a scientific dispute 3 In 1767 he sailed to the Baltic with Charles Messier to test marine chronometers Two years later he joined a successful expedition to Haiti to observe the Venus transit of 1769 In 1771 he took part in the scientific mission of the frigate Flore under Lieutenant Verdun de la Crenne along with Borda The Pingre crater on the Moon is named after him as is the asteroid 12719 Pingre Death editPingre was left impoverished upon the suppression of his monastery in the French Revolution He was able to continue publishing his work until his death in 1796 however through the support of fellow astronomer Jerome Lalande who obtained for him a grant of 3 000 francs from the National Assembly 1 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Alexandre Guy Pingre Etat du Ciel 1754 1757 Cometographie ou Traite historique et theorique des cometes 1783 Projet d une histoire d astronomie du dix septieme siecle 1756 1786 See also editList of Roman Catholic scientist clerics IMSLP Pieces for organ by Francois D Agincourt Boyvin and others collected and copied by Pingre Notes edit a b c d e Catholic Encyclopedia The Natural History and Human Drama of the 18th and 19th century Transit Expeditions to Mauritius and Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean a talk by Anthony Cheke The 1761 transit of Venus dispute between Audiffredi and Pingre PDF Luisa Pigatto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandre Guy Pingre amp oldid 1202370008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
