RICCA, MASSIMILIANO. - Piarist scientist, b. at Novara on 2 Nov. 1761, d. at Siena on 14 Jan. 1835. He first taught in Florence and then in the Ducal College of Correggio, where he held the chair of philosophy and mathematics that made him famous throughout the Duchy of Modena. In 1789 he was transferred to the Tolomei College of Siena.

During his stay there of more than 40 years he taught philosophy, physics, mathematics and later also introduced the study of mineralogy, geology and paleontology; from 1803 he was also professor of mathematics and experimental physics at the University. He cultivated particularly the geological and paleontological sciences and had relations with many Italian and foreign scientists. To his fame as a scientist (although he left no printed scientific works) he joined in a high degree the spirit of an apostle in his priestly mission.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: T. Pendola, Elogio funebre del p. R. M. delle Scuole Pie, Siena 1835; G. Antinori, Biografie degli italiani illustri, IV, Venezia 1836, pp. 108-10; A. Checcucci, Commentario della vita ed opere di Pompilio Pozzetti, con vari elogi d'insigni scolopi, Firenze 1838, pp. 283-93; L. Picanyol, Lo scolopio M. R. e il suo elogio sul grande navigatore Alessandro Malaspina, Roma 1935.

Leodegario Picanyol

@incollection{ec10_ricca_massimiliano, author = {Picanyol, Leodegario}, title = {Ricca, massimiliano}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {X}, pages = {854--855}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/ricca-massimiliano} }

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Ricca, Massimiliano

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