Double refraction in Iceland spar was identified in 1669, a discovery that remains the primary historical contribution of the Danish scholar Rasmus Bartholin. Operating within the intellectual landscape of seventeenth-century Denmark–Norway, he functioned as a versatile academic whose career spanned medicine, mathematics, and astronomy while navigating the evolving standards of scientific inquiry that defined his era.
Academic Formation and Travel
Born in 1625 in Roskilde, Bartholin was the son of Caspar Bartholin the Elder and Anna Fincke, the daughter of mathematician Thomas Fincke. His formal education commenced at the University of Copenhagen, where he earned a Master's degree in 1647. Following this, he spent a decade traveling across Europe, visiting England, France, Italy, and the Netherlands to broaden his academic scope. This period of intellectual migration culminated in 1654 with his receipt of a doctoral degree from the University of Padua.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Career at the University of Copenhagen
Bartholin established a long-term affiliation with the University of Copenhagen, serving there from 1656 until his death in 1698. His institutional roles were diverse; he held professorships in both geometry and medicine. Beyond his teaching duties, he served as the dean of the faculty of medicine, as a librarian, and held the position of rector on three separate occasions: 1666–1667, 1674–1675, and 1683–1684.
Scientific Contributions
His investigation into the properties of Iceland spar, also known as calcite, allowed him to describe the phenomenon of double refraction. Although he published an accurate account of this light-bending behavior, the existing scientific framework of the time could not provide a physical explanation for the effect. It remained unresolved until the development of wave theory by Thomas Young in the early 19th century. In addition to his physics research, Bartholin produced the 1657 work 'De studio lingvæ danicæ', which served as the first grammar of the Danish language.
Fast facts
- Born: 1625, Roskilde
- Died: 1698, Copenhagen
- Citizenship: Denmark–Norway
- University of Copenhagen tenure: 1656–1698
- Doctoral degree: University of Padua, 1654
- Notable discovery: Double refraction of light in Iceland spar (1669)
- Danish language grammar: 1657
- Sibling: Thomas Bartholin (1616–1680)
Questions readers ask
What is Rasmus Bartholin's primary scientific legacy?
He is recognized for his 1669 discovery and accurate description of double refraction occurring in Iceland spar.
What academic subjects did he teach?
During his tenure at the University of Copenhagen, he held professorships in both geometry and medicine.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Copenhagen
- Educated at University of Copenhagen and University of Padua
- Fields of research: astronomy, mathematics, medicine and physics
.jpg)
