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Throughout the 18th century, absolutist monarchies suspicious
of Jesuit loyalty and fearful of their influence over the
population implemented measures limiting the Society's
power and legal standing. In 1773, Pope Clement XIV abolished
the Society in response to increasing political pressure
from France, Spain and Prussia. The Jesuits lost most of
their colleges and universities, many of which were turned
into government offices, barracks, factories or simply
allowed to fall into disrepair. A few members of the Society
were granted refuge in Russia but the Jesuit community
vanished from Europe. Jesuit scientific research suffered
accordingly.
In 1814, Pope Pius VII, appreciative of the Jesuits' contributions
to education, sanctioned the re-establishment of the order.
Over the next forty years, surviving members and new recruits
struggled to rebuild Jesuit traditions and institutions.
Scientific education and research re-emerged as core values
of the "New Society."
Angelo Secchi, 1818-1878
Angelo Secchi was born in the Lombardian town of Reggio
in 1818, just four years after the restoration of the Society
of Jesus. Ordained a priest in 1847, Secchi planned to
continue his training in Rome but went abroad following
the tumultuous liberal revolutions of 1848. Travelling
to Stonyhurst, England and Georgetown University, Secchi
taught
natural science while pursuing his own interest in astronomy.
In 1849, Rome offered him the directorship of the observatory
in the Roman College, the position previously held by Clavius
and Boscovich. Secchi quickly implemented the latter's
plan to build a new observatory on top of one of the supporting
pillars of the dome of the Church of St. Ignatius. Secchi's
accomplishments include the re-discovery of Biela's comet
in 1852; photographing the solar eclipse of 1860; using
spectroscopy to learn the composition of distant stars;
and the measurement and description of many binary stars
and nebulae. He also invented the meteorograph, an automated
device for recording barometric pressure, temperature,
wind direction and velocity, and rainfall.
Secchi's published work reflects his interest in astronomy,
astrophysics and stellar phenomena.
L'Unité des forces physiques: essai de philosophie
naturelle. (Paris, 1874). A survey of natural laws
and phenomena, it includes many diagrams of instruments
used in the study of natural science.
Le stelle saggio di astronomia siderale. (Milan,
1877). An authoritative work on stellar observation and
classification. It includes several color plates depicting
various types
of stellar spectrum.
Le soleil. (Paris, 1875-1877). A popular work
embodying Secchi's labors on solar phenomena. His observations
of the sun's chromosphere, corona and
other features helped advance early solar research. In
fact, some of Secchi's descriptive terminology is still
in use today.
Johann Georg Hagen, 1847-1930
Johann Hagen was director of the Georgetown College Observatory,
Washington DC, from 1888 to 1906. In 1907, he was appointed
Director of the Roman College Observatory, a position he
held until his death in 1930. During his directorship numerous
improvements were made to the observatory. Hagen is noted
for his observations of light and dark nebulae and his
unproven theories about the latter.
Atlas stellarum variabilium. (Rome, 1890-1908)
A catalog of variable stars, stellar bodies that change
in
brightness.
Synopsis der hoeheren mathematik. (Berlin, 1891-1930)
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Jesuits and the Sciences
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