Erich Paul Werner Bessel-Hagen produced mathematical research and historical scholarship during a career centered in Germany. Born in 1898 in the district of Charlottenburg, he navigated the shifting political landscape of his era while maintaining professional roles within the nation's university system. He died in Bonn in 1946, leaving a record of institutional service and specialized study.
Academic Formation
Bessel-Hagen attended the Ludwig Cauer primary school from 1908 until 1917. He subsequently enrolled at the Frederick William University Berlin, where he completed his studies in mathematics. In 1920, he earned a Ph.D. under the supervision of Constantin Carathéodory. Between 1920 and 1921, he furthered his academic experience at the University of Göttingen.
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His career as a university teacher spanned three institutions in Germany. He held a position at the University of Göttingen from 1921 to 1927. Following this, he moved to the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg for the 1927 to 1928 academic year. His final long-term tenure began in 1928 at the University of Bonn, where he remained until his death in 1946.
Professional Conduct and Legacy
During the 1940s, while the Nazi regime imposed restrictions and persecutions against academics of Jewish ancestry, Bessel-Hagen maintained contact with his former colleague Felix Hausdorff. He provided library books to Hausdorff, who had been forcibly retired. Earlier in his career, he was the subject of a jocular reference in the 1923 textbook Vorlesungen über Topologie by Béla Kerékjártó, which featured an index entry pointing to a topological illustration intended to depict him.
Fast facts
- Born: 1898, Charlottenburg
- Died: 1946, Bonn
- Citizenship: Germany
- Doctoral Advisor: Constantin Carathéodory
- Primary Occupations: Mathematician, university teacher, historian of mathematics
Questions readers ask
Where did Erich Bessel-Hagen complete his university education?
He studied at the Frederick William University Berlin and the University of Göttingen.
Which institutions employed Bessel-Hagen?
He held positions at the University of Göttingen, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and the University of Bonn.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Göttingen, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and University of Bonn
