BECCARIA, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. — Born at Mondovì in 1716, he became a Piarist at the age of sixteen and taught philosophy and rhetoric in Palermo and Rome; but, by inclination, he devoted himself to mathematics, and through mathematics turned to the study of the theories of Galileo and Newton, in which he acquired so distinguished a reputation that in 1748 he was called to teach physical sciences at the University of Turin. He set out on the sure path of experience and had the merit of training eminent disciples, such as Lagrange, Cigna, Prospero Balbo, and Angelo Saluzzo. The Accademia delle scienze di Torino originated among his pupils. After Franklin’s discovery, he turned to the study of natural electricity and acquired worldwide fame in this field. He corresponded with Franklin and Volta and was admitted to many academies throughout Europe. He died at Turin in 1781.
The scientific activity of the Piedmontese physicist was varied, intense, and highly significant in several branches of the physical and mathematical sciences; yet the fields in which he left indelible traces are the history of science, electricity, and practical geodesy. His studies of electricity, pursued successfully and tenaciously for more than a quarter of a century, concern electrostatics and atmospheric electrical phenomena and are collected in numerous publications, which brought their author the highest renown throughout Europe and repeatedly earned enthusiastic praise from Franklin and Priestley. In electrostatics he supported Franklin’s hypothesis of a single electric fluid, in opposition to Symmer’s dualistic theory. As for atmospheric electricity, B. was a truly persistent and bold observer and achieved highly notable results. Here too he may be regarded as Franklin’s collaborator and continuator, as is shown by his attitude toward the lightning rod, which he tested and perfected. A formidable undertaking that occupied several years of his life was the measurement of the Gradus Taurinensis: the extremely laborious field operations were followed by long and difficult calculations, so that only in 1774 was the extensive Latin report entitled as above completed, containing a description of the operations themselves, the most significant portion of the observations and calculations, and the results. The publication, as is well known, aroused numerous criticisms; attempts at revision consequently followed. B. replied by defending himself with great acuity; but only half a century after his death was the result of B. to receive almost complete confirmation and, allowing for his less perfect instrumental means, his explanation to receive full confirmation.
Luigi Berra — Leodegario Picanyol