Tadeusz Banachiewicz in Tartu (1915 -1918)

Piotr FLIN & Elena PANKO

Jan Kochanowski University, Institute of Physics, PolandNikolaev State University, Kalinenkov Astr. Observatory, Nikolaev, UKraine

Tadeusz Banachiewicz (1882 in Warsaw -1954 in Cracow) was outstanding Polish astronomer, geodesist and mathematician. His activity strongly influenced Polish astronomy during between war period and after WWII. He invented a theory of "cracovians" (a special kind of matrix algebra) which brought him international recognition. This theory allowed to obtain easily several astronomical, geodesic, mechanical and mathematical problems. This as well as other achievements were widely known all of the world. He was a professor at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow and director of the University Observatory for 35 years (1919–1954).

Banachiewicz c.1910

In 1915 Tadeusz Banachiewicz moved from Kazan to the Astronomical Observatory in Yuryev University (edict from September, 5, 1915),where he took over the vacant post of astronomer - younger assistant.

Thesis“ Three essays on refraction theory”. On December , 11, 1915 he became a privat – docent of the Yuryev Univ.

Magister degree thesis: “ On the Gauss equation sin (z-q) =m sin4z, where z is close to q”.

Konstantin Dormidontovich Pokrovsky (1868–1944).

The public defense took place on September, 12, 1917

Erich Schoenberg (1882–1965) Leonid Samuilovich Leybenzon (1879 –1951)

Reviewers:

October, 5, 1917 Banachiewicz promoted to docent.

January , 31, 1918 The Faculty advertised the competition for astronomy professorship.

21/8 March 1918 the University Council accepted the positive opinion of the Faculty on TB

The continuous protection and goodwill of Prof. K. D. Pokrovsky allowed him to be promoted from younger assistant till the position of extraordinary professor and director of the Astronomical Observatory in the period of three years. Without these years such Banachiewicz’s carrier was impossible.

June, 31, 1918 the University was converted into German university. This is the end of 66 days directorship of Banachiewich. The Yuryev University earlier was partially transferred to Voronezh. Banachiewicz was regarded as professor there. He appeared neither in Voronezh nor in Dorpat. He return to his homeland Poland.

March, 26, 1918 Banachiewicz :extraordinary professor of astronomy and director of the Astronomical Observatory

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