Sámuel Mikoviny | |
|---|---|
 Sámuel Mikoviny sculpture inTata | |
| Born | 1686-1700? |
| Died | (1750-03-23)23 March 1750 |
| Occupation(s) | Mathematician,engineer,cartographer |
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Sámuel Mikoviny (Hungarian:Mikoviny Sámuel,Slovak:Samuel Mikovíni ? – 23 March 1750) was amathematician,engineer,cartographer, and professor. He was a leading representative of science and technology in the 18th centuryKingdom of Hungary andHabsburg monarchy.
The family lived scattered throughout the territory of present-day Slovakia, some members have moved also other areas of the contemporaryKingdom of Hungary. His father, a poor lower nobleman Samuel Micovini, originated from the most numerous branch fromBreznóbánya (today Brezno, Slovakia).[1] He worked in several ethnic Slovak villages, firstly as a teacher inUhorszka (today Uhorské, Slovakia), andHradistya (today Hradište, Slovakia), later he became anEvangelic priest inTuricska (today Turíčky, Slovakia). In 1663, he moved toÁbelfalva (today Ábelová, Slovakia). His mother was Helena Ničková (Nicsko, Niczko).[2]
The date and the place of birth of his sonpolymath Sámuel is unknown.[a] Mikoviny was possibly born in Turicska or Ábelfalva, in 1686 or 1700.[1] In 1727, he married Anna Regina Gillig fromSzentgyörgy (today Svätý Jur, Slovakia). The couple had five children, but only three survived - sons Károly Szaniszló (in Slovak: Karol Stanislav), a geodest; Tamás Lajos (Tomáš Ľudovít), an engineer; and a daughter Erzsébet Krisztina (Alžbeta Kristína).[2]
In the literature, Mikoviny is mentioned as aSlovak polymath (the first Slovak engineer)[3][4][5][6] and also as aHungarian.[7][8] The contemporary elites identified themselves as members of commonNatio Hungarica regardless of their ethnic origin, whereas the contemporary termHungarus is an umbrella term covering ethnicHungarians (Magyars),Slovaks and other ethnic groups in the Kingdom of Hungary because the self-definition through a common homeland, class or religion was more common than through language. The Slovak origin of Mikoviny was noticed already byJán Kollár and is supported by further research in present-day Slovakia. Besides another, the research in local archives confirmed that the father of Sámuel Mikoviny wrote his records in Turicska inSlovak.[3] Mikoviny declared himself in more of his maps and works as "nobilis Hungarus".[9][10] Two letters written in Hungarian remained after him,[11][10] however - as per the contemporary customs - by his studies and works mostly he used the German and the Latin language.[10]
His name is written in contemporary sources and later literature in many forms - Mikoviny, Mikowiny, Mikovini, Mikovényi, Mickovini, Mikovinyi, Mikovínij, Mikowini,[10] Mikovény.[12] He used mostly the form Mikoviny[12] and wrote his name without any diacritics.[13]
He learnt engraving atNuremberg, and studied mathematics at the nearbyUniversity of Altdorf and later inJena. He probably took private lessons in astronomy and surveying inVienna before he returned toPressburg (Pozsony, present-dayBratislava).
In Nuremberg, Mikoviny showed that he was a good engraver and a gifted artist. His series of engravings, views of Altdorf and Nuremberg was published in a booklet of Altdorf[14] in 1723. The publication also included a map of the district. His work was significantly influenced by another renowned scholar of the 18th century living in the multi-ethnic Kingdom of Hungary,Matthias Bel. Earlier Mikoviny engraved a map ofDemänová Ice Cave and several illustrations for Bel's bookHungariae antiquae et novae prodromus (Messenger of Old and New Hungary), published in 1723 in Nuremberg. After studies, he returned home to the Kingdom of Hungary.
From 1725, he was county engineer inPressburg.[14] He devoted most of his attention to improvement works, especially anti-flood works on the banks of the riverDanube andVáh (Vág), work to secure their navigability, and regulation work nearTata. He also concerned himself with astronomy at an observatory which he had established at his home, probably the first at the territory of present-day Slovakia.[b][15][14] His astronomical observations served map-making.
In 1731,Charles III delegated him to construct maps for Bel's great work,Notitia Hungariae Novae Historico-Geographica.[16] Mikoviny then made a significant contribution to the making of a new map of the Kingdom of Hungary. He relied on his own measurements and used a scientific method, based on four basic principles: astronomical, geometrical, magnetic, and hydrographic. Mikoviny created the first topographical maps of individualcounties of the Kingdom of Hungary. He also contributed to the work with illustrations, especially views of towns and castles. Mikoviny used his own prime meridian for the Kingdom of Hungary, themeridianus Posoniensis, which passed through the northeast tower ofBratislava Castle (Hungarian: Pozsonyi Vár, German: Pressburger Schloss).[c]
In 1735, he became a main royal engineer of mining towns (now located in present-day Central Slovakia[d]) and was instructed to found a mining school inBanská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya) which later became the (Mining Academy).[16] Mikoviny became the director and the first professor. He lectured on mathematics, mechanics, hydraulics, and surveying methods and supervised practical work in land and mine surveying. From 1935, he was also a member of thePrussian Academy of Sciences inBerlin.[16] He made a significant contribution to the development of mining inLower Hungary (today in centralSlovakia) helping it to achieve a place among the most technically developed industries in Europe at that time.[17] He was a leading expert on the construction of water reservoirs, mining machinery, foundries, and mills. His chief contribution is a construction of a sophisticated system of reservoirs (tajchy), which drained water from the flooded mines inBanská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya) and provided energy for its local industry. He closely collaborated withMaximilian andJoseph Charles Hell.[17]
He also worked as an engineer and builder of roads and bridges. During theSilesian Wars, EmpressMaria Theresa of Austria employed him as a military engineer. He designed and built defensive and fortification works on theMoravian-Silesian frontier.[17] In 1748, he carried out regulation work in the area of Komárom (todayKomárom andKomárno), and at the time devoted attention to archaeological research. He studied and described the remains of the Roman fortress ofBrigetio inSzőny, and made a plan of it. Various buildings were erected according to his plans. In 1749, he prepared plans for construction of a royal palace inBuda, and carried out preparation of the castle hill and construction of water treatment works for it.[18] In 1750, he carried out anti-flooding works on the riverVáh (Vág). During the works, he became ill and died on 23 March 1750 at a now unknown place on the road fromTrenčín (Trencsén) to Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya). He is buried at an unknown location.[16]
Mikoviny effectively resolved the energy supply for mining machines in the region of Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya) for the 18th, but also for most of the 19th and the early 20th century. The artificial lake system significantly improved and extended by him is today part ofUNESCOWorld Heritage Site. It is still in use and supplies the town with drinking water. Several Mikoniny's memorials were built in Slovakia and Hungary. ASamuel Mikovíni Prize has been presented inSlovakia since 2013, to recognize original developments resulting in significant improvements in science and technology.
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