Franz Ulrich Theodosius Aepinus , 1724-1802, German physicist. He studied at Jena and Rostock and taught mathematics at Rostock from 1747 to 1755. After a brief stay in Berlin he went to St. Petersburg as professor of physics and academician, remaining there until 1798 and rising to a high position as courtier to Catherine the Great. He made experimental and theoretical contributions to the study of electricity, including work on the thermoelectric properties of tourmaline and the invention, with J. C. Wilche, of the air capacitor. A consideration of the implications of this device led him to...
Read more
