Podcast
Questions and Answers
What profession did Ferdinand von Sommer train in before setting out for India?
What profession did Ferdinand von Sommer train in before setting out for India?
In what year did Ferdinand von Sommer graduate from the University of Göttingen?
In what year did Ferdinand von Sommer graduate from the University of Göttingen?
Which notable mathematician did Ferdinand von Sommer study under?
Which notable mathematician did Ferdinand von Sommer study under?
What was the primary focus of Ferdinand von Sommer's interests upon returning to Berlin in 1842?
What was the primary focus of Ferdinand von Sommer's interests upon returning to Berlin in 1842?
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What significant event was occurring in Australia when Ferdinand von Sommer arrived in 1845?
What significant event was occurring in Australia when Ferdinand von Sommer arrived in 1845?
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How did Ferdinand von Sommer's mathematical claims affect his reputation among his contemporaries?
How did Ferdinand von Sommer's mathematical claims affect his reputation among his contemporaries?
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What was the name of the copper mine that attracted thousands of people during von Sommer's time in South Australia?
What was the name of the copper mine that attracted thousands of people during von Sommer's time in South Australia?
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Which city did Ferdinand von Sommer briefly stay in after leaving New Zealand?
Which city did Ferdinand von Sommer briefly stay in after leaving New Zealand?
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What position did Ferdinand von Sommer hold at the Burra Mine?
What position did Ferdinand von Sommer hold at the Burra Mine?
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Why was Ferdinand von Sommer criticized in local papers?
Why was Ferdinand von Sommer criticized in local papers?
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What was a key achievement von Sommer reached while working with the Western Australian Mining Company?
What was a key achievement von Sommer reached while working with the Western Australian Mining Company?
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What was the outcome of von Sommer's libel case against John Stephens?
What was the outcome of von Sommer's libel case against John Stephens?
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What illness contributed to von Sommer's death?
What illness contributed to von Sommer's death?
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What legacy did von Sommer leave relating to the Geological Society of London?
What legacy did von Sommer leave relating to the Geological Society of London?
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How was Ferdinand von Sommer described when he first arrived in Perth?
How was Ferdinand von Sommer described when he first arrived in Perth?
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What significant event occurred surrounding an impersonator of Ferdinand von Sommer?
What significant event occurred surrounding an impersonator of Ferdinand von Sommer?
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What was von Sommer's attitude towards local mining methods?
What was von Sommer's attitude towards local mining methods?
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Where did von Sommer move after leaving Western Australia?
Where did von Sommer move after leaving Western Australia?
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Study Notes
Ferdinand von Sommer: A Nineteenth-Century Polymath
- Ferdinand von Sommer, Western Australia's first government geologist, was a complex figure.
- He achieved considerable accomplishments in surveying and mapping but also faced much criticism in the press.
Early Life and Education
- Born in the Netherlands around 1800.
- Studied mathematics at the University of Göttingen under Carl Friedrich Gauss.
- Graduated in 1822, though his mathematical work was deemed unsatisfactory by Gauss and peers.
- Served in the Dutch navy & worked as a writer, journalist, and university lecturer in Berlin.
- Became a doctor in 1838
- Travelled to India as a missionary, and briefly to Cape Town in 1840.
- Returned to Europe as "Frederic de Sommer," a Prussian naturalist, and attempted to sell art.
Von Sommer's Career in Australia
- Arrived in Adelaide in 1845 during the Burra copper boom.
- Became assayer, smelter, and superintendent at the Burra copper mine.
- His criticism of local mining methods led to dismissal.
- Worked as a doctor and faced much public criticism in South Australian newspapers after leaving the Burra mine.
- Successfully sued a newspaper editor for libel.
Government Geologist in Western Australia
- Became the first government geologist in Western Australia in 1847.
- Traveled extensively and produced several geological surveys reports.
- Remained a vocal critic of local mining methods.
- Faced further criticism in the press, labelled a "charlatan."
- Left Western Australia in 1848 for Dutch employ.
Later Life and Death
- Joined the Dutch government.
- Searched for copper deposits on Timor.
- Died in 1849 from an unknown illness.
The Ferdinand von Sommer Impostor
- A man impersonating von Sommer surfaced in German newspapers in the late 1850s.
- Purported to be a Dr. of Philosophy (though his credentials were dubious).
- Engaged in fraudulent activities, including swindling money.
- Imprisoned (three years) before escaping and continuing his ill-gotten gains.
- Ultimately, arrested in Frankfurt am Main.
Von Sommer's Legacy
- Some of his letters, maps and reports are archived in London.
- Demonstrates the difficulties of understanding reputations in the past.
- Recovered from historical records, reveals a complex personality with considerable achievements.
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Description
Explore the life and achievements of Ferdinand von Sommer, Western Australia's first government geologist. From his early education under Gauss to his diverse career in Australia, this quiz delves into the complexities of this fascinating polymath. Discover his contributions to surveying, mapping, and more.
