Zantedeschi, Francesco

ZANTEDESCHI, FRANCESCO. - Priest and scientist, b. at Dolcé (Verona) on 18 Aug. 1797, d. at Padua on 29 March 1873.

Ordained a priest at Verona, he taught philosophy and natural sciences at Brescia, Milan and Venice, before obtaining the chair of physics at the University of Padua, from which he was removed in 1857 because for two years he had been stricken with blindness. He reacted to the measure by publishing a bibliography of his writings, which he circulated to all the scientific Institutes of Europe, and then an extract of the replies that had reached him (Nascita, studi, posizione sociale e bibliografia delle principali opere di F. Z., Padua 1857, and Lettere di Accademie... dettate a conforto dell'abate F. cav. Z., ibid. 1858). For all this he was not reinstated in teaching, but he continued his own scientific activity into advanced old age: as late as 1856 he was collaborating with the Atti dell'I. R. Istituto Veneto. He took an interest in all branches of physics, promoted steam navigation in the Adriatic, founded the Botanical Garden of Venice, and achieved a very wide renown, as is shown by his admission to the principal Italian and foreign scientific Academies. His most original studies concern acoustics, "caloric" and "electricity."

Renzo U. Montini