Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a celebrated mathematician and astronomer from Royal Prussia, Kingdom of Poland recognized for proposing that the Sun and not the Earth is stationary in the center of the universe and that the Earth revolves around the Sun. This model of the universe was published in his famous book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium and went on to become one of the biggest events in the history of science.

He was the son of Barbara Watzenrode and Nicolaus Copernicus Sr., a wealthy merchant from Kraków. He had three older siblings: a brother named Andreas (Andrews) and two sisters named Barbara and Katharina. Throughout his life, he never got married nor had children.

He is also known for formulating the famous monetary principle in economics called Gresham's law (Copernicus Law).

Although all the good arts serve to draw man's mind away from vices and lead it toward better things, this function can be more fully performed by this art, which also provides extraordinary intellectual pleasure.Nicolaus Copernicus

For it is the duty of an astronomer to compose the history of the celestial motions through careful and expert study.Nicolaus Copernicus

I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavour to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God.Nicolaus Copernicus

Not a few other very eminent and scholarly men made the same request, urging that I should no longer through fear refuse to give out my work for the common benefit of students of Mathematics.Nicolaus Copernicus

So far as hypotheses are concerned, let no one expect anything certain from astronomy, which cannot furnish it, lest he accept as the truth ideas conceived for another purpose, and depart from this study a greater fool than when he entered it.Nicolaus Copernicus

So, influenced by these advisors and this hope, I have at length allowed my friends to publish the work, as they had long besought me to do.Nicolaus Copernicus

Therefore, when I considered this carefully, the contempt which I had to fear because of the novelty and apparent absurdity of my view, nearly induced me to abandon utterly the work I had begun.Nicolaus Copernicus

To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.Nicolaus Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a famous Polish mathematician and astronomer, who was born on February 19, 1473. As a person born on this date, Nicolaus Copernicus is listed in our database as the 1st most popular celebrity for the day (February 19).

People born on February 19 fall under the Zodiac sign of Pisces, the Fish. Nicolaus Copernicus is the 1st most popular Pisces.

Aside from information specific to Nicolaus Copernicus' birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus is the 1st most famous Polish.

In general, Nicolaus Copernicus ranks as the 9th most popular famous person, and the 1st most popular mathematician of all time. “The Famous Birthdays” catalogs over 25,000 famous people, everyone from actors to singers to scientists to serial killers and more. If you're curious to see who was born on your birthday, you can use our database to find out who, what, where, when and why. You can search by birthday, birthplace, claim to fame or any other information by typing in the search box, or simply browse our site by selecting the month, the day, the horoscope, or any other clickable option.

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