Abraham Pihl

Abraham Pihl (portrait hanging in the church he built)
Vang Church in Hedmark designed by Abraham Pihl
Torshov farm building in Vang designed by Abraham Pihl

Abraham Pihl (3 October 1756 – 20 May 1821) was a Norwegian clergyman, astronomer and architect.[1]

Biography

Abraham Pihl was born in Gausdal, in Oppland county, Norway. He completed priest study at the University of Copenhagen in 1783 where he had also studied mathematics, mechanics and astronomy.[2]

In 1784, Pihl became vicar at Flekkefjord in the county of Vest-Agder. From 1785 he was appointed as Denmark-Norway astronomical observer in Norway. In 1789, he was appointed to serve as priest in the parish of Vang in Hedmark (Vang kirke, Hamar) where he would serve until his death in 1821.[3]

Pihl developed a large collection of self-made astronomical instruments, and also made telescopes and sextants for others. He designed Vang church which had burned down and was rebuilt between 1804 and 1810. He started large-scale production of pendulum clocks. The rectory became the largest employer in Vang, with up to 140 persons employed. [4][5]

Honors

He was decorated Knight of the Order of Dannebrog in 1809 for his scientific efforts.[6]

Personal life

His father Andreas Pihl (1726-1781) was vicar of Gausdal. His grandfather Joachim Pihl (1689-1762) was provost for Gudbrandsdalen. In 1784, he married Anna Cathrine Neumann (1764-1850), daughter of Jacob Neumann, who operated the Hassel Iron Works in Modum. They were the parents of eight children and were the grandparents of engineers Oluf Pihl and Carl Abraham Pihl.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Abraham Pihl – Prest, prost og tusenkunstner (Gausdal Historielag)
  2. ↑ Norsk Teknisk Museum: Abraham Pihl, Observatør
  3. ↑ Vang kirke, Hamar (Kirkesøk)
  4. ↑ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "Abraham Pihl". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Wiig, Jan. "Abraham Pihl". In Helle, Knut. Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  6. ↑ To essays om Abraham Pihl (Knut Imerslund, Høgskolen i Hedmark)
  7. ↑ Neumann-familien (Hassel jernverk)
  8. ↑ Gunnar Nerheim: Oluf Pihl, Ingeniør og Kraftutbygger (Norsk biografisk leksikon)

Other Sources

External links


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