The two-volume edition of the Tentamen, released in 1897 and 1904, stands as a primary vehicle through which the mathematical contributions of the Bolyais reached a wider audience. Mór Réthy served as the editor for this project, utilizing his expertise in geometry and mechanics to disseminate the foundational work of the father and son duo.
Academic Formation
Born in Nagykőrös in 1846, Réthy completed his graduation at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 1870. His subsequent academic training took him to Germany, where he engaged in advanced studies at the University of Göttingen and Heidelberg University. During this period, he received instruction from figures including Clebsch, Kirchhoff, Schering, and Königsberger. He successfully earned his doctoral degree from Heidelberg in 1874.
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Réthy began his career in academia at the Franz Joseph University, where he served from 1874 until 1886. During this tenure in Cluj-Napoca, he acted as both the head of the mathematics department and the dean of the faculty of sciences. In 1886, he relocated to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where he held a position until his retirement in 1920. Initially focused on geometry, his teaching interests shifted by 1892 toward analytical mechanics and theoretical physics.
Research and Recognition
As a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences starting in 1878, Réthy produced a body of research spanning physics, mathematics, and geometry. His contributions to theoretical mechanics were documented primarily in Hungarian and German publications. In 1904, his scholarly output was acknowledged with the Marczibányi Prize. Near the end of his life, in 1924, he received an honorary degree from the University of Heidelberg.
Fast facts
- Born: 1846, Nagykőrös
- Died: 1925, Budapest
- Education: University of Göttingen, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Heidelberg University
- Languages: Hungarian, German
- Primary Employers: Franz Joseph University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Notable Award: Marczibányi Prize (1904)
- Burial Site: Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Mór Réthy teach?
He lectured in geometry, analytical mechanics, and theoretical physics.
Where is Mór Réthy buried?
He is buried at the Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery in Budapest.
Achievements
- Marczibányi Prize — 1904
- Held posts at Franz Joseph University and Budapest University of Technology and Economics
- Fields: mathematics, mathematical physics and geometry
