Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti: the Youth Years (1791-1823)

Leo Liberti, Imperial College, Dept. of Mathematics
Private address: 267, Putney Bridge Road, SW15 2PT London.



Tutor: Prof. E. Ortiz.

June 1995

Abstract

Biography of the first three decades of the life of Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti (1791-1863), Italian physicist and mathematician. Born in Novara, he attended university in Pavia, worked in the Milan observatory. Escaped from Milan to London in 1823, where he stayed till 1827. He then moved to Buenos Ayres and successively to Corfu, where he lectured at the university. He went back to Italy where he was invited to lecture at the University of Pisa, where he remained until his death. In 1863 he was elected senator of the Kingdom of Italy.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Arrigo Triulzi for all the helpful informations about Mossotti he found for me on the Internet, Ferdinando Urbano for his findings at the Museum of the Risorgimento in Milan, and all the staff at the Archive of State of Milan for having helped me in my searches.

 
Figure 1: Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti

Ottaviano Fabrizio Mossotti: the Youth Years (1791-1823)

 
• Introduction
  • The Sources
• Early Years
  • School Years
  • University Years
  • Research assistantship in Pavia
• The Observatory of Brera
  • Organization of the Observatory
  • Mossotti's Achievements at the Observatory
  • Contacts with the University of Pavia
  • Rise of Mossotti's Fame and Esteem
  • Mossotti's Scientific Achievements 1820-1823
• The Secret Societies
  • Intellectual Background of the Risorgimento
  • The Adelphi Society
• The Escape
  • The Sources for Mossotti's Escape
  • Andryane
  • The Escape: Facts
  • The Escape: Reasons
  • Abroad
• Conclusion
• References
• About this document ...