Giovanni Sante Gaspero Santini, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetGiovanni Sante Gaspero Santini
Italian astronomer
Date of Birth: 30-Jan-1787
Place of Birth: Caprese Michelangelo, Tuscany, Italy
Date of Death: 26-Jun-1877
Profession: astronomer
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius 
About Giovanni Sante Gaspero Santini
- Giovanni Sante Gaspero Santini (b.
- Caprese in Tuscany, 30 Jan., 1787; d.
- Noventa Padovana, 26 June 1877) was an Italian astronomer and mathematician.
- He received his first instruction from his parental uncle, the Abbot Giovanni Battista Santini.
- After finishing his philosophical studies in the school year 1801-2, at the seminary of Prato, he entered in 1802 the University of Pisa.
- He very soon abandoned the study of law in order to devote himself, under the direction of Prof.
- Paoli and Abbot Pacchiano, exclusively to mathematics and the natural sciences.
- It appears that at Pisa, Santini still wore the cassock, with the consequence that in bibliographical dictionaries he still figures under the title of abate.
- It is certain, however, that he never received major orders.
- In 1810 he married Teresa Pastrovich, and one year after her death, in 1843, he contracted a second marriage with Adriana Conforti, who outlived him.
- During his stay in Pisa he became friendly with the rector of the university and of the influential Vittorio Fossombroni.
- At their urgent suggestion Santini's family, especially his uncle, made great sacrifices to enable him to continue his studies in Milan (1805–1806) under Barnaba Oriani, Cesaris, and Francesco Carlini.
- On 17 Oct., 1806, the Italian Government appointed him assistant to the director of the observatory at Padua, Abate Chiminello, whom he succeeded in 1814.
- In 1813 the university offered him the chair of astronomy, a position in which he was confirmed by the Emperor Francis I in 1818 after the Venetian territory had become part of Austria.
- In addition he taught for several years, as substitute, elementary algebra, geometry, and higher mathematics.
- During the school years 1824-1825 and 1856-1857 he was rector of the university, and from 1845 to 1872 director of mathematical studies.
- Towards the end of 1873 he suffered repeatedly from fainting spells which were followed by a steadily increasing physical and mental weakness and final breakdown.
- He died in his ninety-first year at his villa, Noventa Padovana.
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