Pilgrimage through the History of German Natural Science,
University City Göttingen II
Kaoru Harada
Email:babna800@jtk.zaq.ne.jp(Received 23 October 2003 Accepted 30 November 2002)
Scientists in the same generation as F. Wohlelr (Fig. 89-96).
We have seen several pictures of scientists worked in the
University of Göttingen. Additional portraits of chemist outside
the University have also collected in the Museum. Some of thechemists are Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848, Fig. 89), Eilhardt
Mitscherlich (1794-1863), (Fig. 90), Justus Leibig (1803-1873,
Fig. 91), Michel Eugene Chevreul (1786-1889), (Fig. 92, 93), F.
W. Sertürner (1783-1841), (Fig. 94) and Ernst Otto Beckmann(1853-1923), (Fig. 95, 96).
J. J. Berzelius (Fig. 89) was a famous Swedish chemist. He
contributed much to the development of modern chemistry on
Fig. 90 Photograph of Eilhardt Mitscherlich (1794-1863).

the following subjects : [Discovery of elements, nomenclature ofelements, elemental signs, atomic weights of elements, allotrope,

J. Liebig (Fig. 91) was a great German chemist, and his young

concept of catalyst and isomer]. The accurate measurements ofday’s life was dynamic. He was a self taught chemist and heatomic weight based on the R. Boyl’s atomic theory were his

studied at Paris for two years and he polished up his chemistry.

great contribution to chemistry in the first half of the 19th century.

He made human relations with L. J. Gay-Lussac (1778-1850)
and A. Humboldt (1769-1859) because of J. Libig’s (1803-1873)
interest on Arsenal. He got a position at Giessen University inthe age 21 by the recommendation of A. Humboldt. He had
been active in both research and education in Giessen. His
chemical education with experimental research became famousand the system became a standard educational method for the
study of chemistry. He moved to München in 1852 and wrote
several books. J. Liebig and F. Wöhler were a life-long friends
each other.
His research works were as follows [Establishment ofelemental analyses of carbon and hydrogen, isomer, finding or
syntheses of new compounds, radical theory, artificial fertilizer,

Fig. 89 Medal of Jöns Jacobus Berzelius (1779-1848).

agricultural chemistry and fermentation]. Liebig’s name havebeen preserved in the “Liebig’s method of C, H analyses”, and

E. Mitscherlich (Fig. 90) was a German chemistry professor at“Liebig’s condenser”, a distillation apparatus.

Berlin University. When he was young, he studied abroad at
Berzelius’s laboratory. He studied on crystals and proposed “arule of isomorphism of crystals”.

He recognized periodic

property of elements, and also catalytic activity in a chemical
reaction.

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254© 2002 by SSOEL Japan229

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
F. W. W. Sertürner (Fig. 94, 1783-1841) was a German
Apotheker. He studied plants Alkaloid and isolated acidic andbasic materials from Opium by extraction at the time earlier than1805. The acidic material was Meconic Acid and the basic
crystal was Morphium (later Morphine). The morphine is thefirst isolated plant-alkaloid and the alkaloid chemistry started by
the finding of Morphine by Sertürner.

Fig. 91 Profile of Justus Liebig made of copper plate (1803-1873).

M. E. Chevreul (Fig. 92, 93, 1786-1889) was a French chemist.
He was a specialist of dye materials and dyeing, and also of thechemistry of animal fat. He discovered that animal fats were
glycerol ester (glyceride) of higher fatty acids. Chevreul wasinterested in natural philosophy on the elements in chemistry.
He has been famous of his long lived life, and he was a active
research chemist until his death at the age 103 years old.

Fig. 94 The finder of Alkaloid, F. W. Sertürner’s (1783-1841) medal wasin display.

E. O. Beckmann (Fig. 95, 96, 1853-1923) was a German
chemist, after he studied at Leipzig and, he became a professor ofchemistry at Giessen in 1892, then at Leipzig in 1897.

He

became a first director of chemistry division of the Kaiser
Wilhelm Institutre at Berlin in 1911. So called “Beckmann
rearrangement” was discovered by him, and the Beckmann’s
thermometer for molecular weight measurement was designed
Fig. 92 A medal of French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul (17861889) was on display. He started his chemical research at the age 23
and continued up to 103 years old. He was an active researcher for 80
years.

by him.

Fig. 95

Fig. 93230

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 96
Fi. 95, 96 A medal of Ernst Bechmann (1853-1923) with his portrait andan equation of Beckmann rearrangement was on display.

Fig. 98 Bismarck’s living house is now a sightseeing object, and the timeschedule and entrance fee are on display.

Otto Bismarck’s livings house (Fig. 97-99).
In the old days, all of the German cities were surroundedby the city wall for security. However, in the 18-19 century, thecity gate and the city wall were removed because of theinconvenience of the city activity. The wall and the gate wereconverted to a road or green belt surrounding the old city.
Some part of the city-wall is still left in Göttingen.
When Otto Bismarck (1815-1898) was a student of Göttingen
University, he was ordered to live in a small house in thecity–wall. The Bismarck’s living place is still an object ofsightseeing. The scar on his face (Fig. 99) is probably due tothe duel between students in his young days. When he was aprime minister of Preussen, he tried to fight duel with Rudolf
Fig. 99

Virchow (1821-1902), who was a famous physiologist andalso a liberal politician.

Gauss Geist (Fig. 100-104).
There is an Apotheke (pharmacy) called “Gauss
Apotheke” at the end of Theater Str. in Göttingen. The
Apotheke has been a respectable business in Germany. The
white coat pharmacists are wearing on indicates the status of
Apotheker (pharmacist) in the German society. The Gauss
Apotheke sells their own inexpensive medicine called “Gauss
Geist” (Gauss’s spirit).

Gauss Geist is a Magen Bitter(stomach medicine) of alcoholic solution (40 %) which was
prepared by extraction of herbs with alcohol. The Gauss
Geist is filled in 20 ml small brown bottle and nice label isFig. 97

pasted on. Years ago they sold Gauss Geist only 1 DM each,231

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
but now the price is up to 2 DM or so. It tastes good to me,
but the Gauss Geist contains 40% alcohol, therefore, if wetake too much the Magen Bitter, it makes worth our Magen
problem. It should be written on the label “Only two bottles
a day”. Any way this is an interesting medicine. The namesounds great to me. I have bought some Gauss Geist every
time when I visited Göttingen for my students working in mylaboratory.
Fig. 102 The label of Gauss Geist.

Fig. 100 There is “Gauss Apotheke” near the corner of Theaterstrasse.
They sell “Gauss Geist” which is a Magen Bitter. The small bottle
contains 20ml of liquid which is extracted with 40% ethanol.
Fig. 103 The next door of “Gauss Apotheke” is “Gauss Keller” which
is a kind of restaurant.

Fig. 104 Any way Gauss is a famous person in Germany. The portraitof Gauss (1777-1855) comes from the 10 DM note.
Fig. 101The auther was buying Gauss Geist.

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Department of Physics and of Flight Research (Fig. 105-108).
We leave the old observatory and head towards thesouthern part of the old town across the Burgerstrasse, where theDepartment of Physics, Mathematics and the Max Plank
Institute für Stromungsforschung are located. “Deutsche
Forschung und Versuchungs-Anstalt für Luft und Raum
Fahrten” is probably an organization similar to that of NASA in
the U. S. A. When I was a young boy very enthusiastic about
making model airplanes, I remember that there was a wing shape

Fig. 106

called “Göttingen -type”. The flight research institute has been
here in Göttingen for long time. At the present time, rockets
and satellites are the main target of this organization. We thenpassed a house holding a plaque of Ludwig Prandtl (1875-1953),
who was a pioneer of aerodynamics in Germany. We passedby the building of the “Institute of Theoretical Physics” and“Institute of Physics”, and found a house holding a plaque ofVictor Moritz Goldschmidt (1888-1947) who was a famous
geochemist.

Fig. 107.
Fig. 106, 107 We find plates for Institute of Physics (Fig. 106) andTheoretical Physics (Fig. 107).

Fig. 105 There is a plaque for Ludwig Prandtl (1875-1953) who was
the aerodynamics professor of the University of Göttingen anddirector of Kaiser Wilhelm Institute.

Fig. 108 This is an entrance of the Institute for air-flight and spaceflight research. This is also belongs to the Max-Planck-Institute. The
institution is probably an organization like NASA in the U. S. A..

233

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Institute of Mathematics (Fig. 109-112).
When we entered to a building of “Institute ofMathematics”, many geometrical models were on display.
Near the window of the room, there was a bronze bust of thegreat mathematician David Hilbert (1862-1943), who was bornin Königsberg, and later invited to Göttingen to became aprofessor of mathematics. In 1900, at the second International
Congress of Mathematics held in Paris, he proposed 23
mathematical problems that 20th century mathematician shouldsolve. Many of these problems have been solved already, andJapanese mathematician Teiji Takagi (1875-1960) who studied
under Hilbert, solved the 9th problem in 1921. Takagi was
responsible for raising the mathematical level of Japan (Fig. 114116).
Fig. 111 We found a bronze head of David Hilbert (1862-1943,
Mathematician) in the building of Mathematical Institute.

Takagi’s white marble plaque was displayed in
Kreuzbergring in Göttingen. This plaque is the second plaquefor Japanese in Göttingen. The first one is for Hisomu Nagai(1878-1957, physiologist), located in Friedlender Strasse, and thethird plaque is for Kotaro Honda (1870-1954) in the same houseas Takagi’s (Fig. 117).

Fig. 112 Plaque for George Christoph Lichtennberg, physicist andwriter.

Fig. 109 I found a plaque of Viktor Moritz Goldschmidt (1888-1947)
on the way to the Max -Planck Institute (Fig. 146).

Fig. 110 Sign plate of Mathematical Institute.

Fig. 113 Plaque of Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811-1899, Chemist).

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Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Fig. 115 A part of Japanese news paper concerning the plaque for Dr.
Takagi is shown in Fig. 115.

Fig. 116 Plaques for three Japanese scholars are in Göttingen. The firsttwo plaques are for Teiji Takagi (Mathematician) and Kotaro Honda(Physicist).

Fig. 114 Plaques for three Japanese scholars are in Göttingen. There areplaques for Teiji Takagi (Mathematician), Kotaro Honda (Physicist) and
Hiromu Nagai (Physiologist).

Fig. 117 Plaques for three Japanese scholars are in Göttingen. The third
plaque is for Hiromu Nagai (Physiologist).

Albani Friedhof (Fig. 118-120).
Albani Friedhof is located in the east side of the old city.
The gravestones of three important figures, Johann Friedrich
Gmelin (1748-1804), Johann Friedrich Herbart (1776-1841) andCarl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) are located here.
J. F. Gmelin was the first professor of chemistry in235

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Fig. 119 Johann Friedrich Gmelin’s grave is in the Albany cemetery. He
was practically the first chemistry professor in Göttingen. The
gravestone is made of sandstone. Therefore, it suffers weathering easily
and it was difficult to read the letters. Fortunately the gravestone wascleaned and inlayed with black paint and we can see clearly the letters on
the gravestone.

Göttingen, and Friedrich Stromeyer (1786-1865) was the 2nd
professor of chemistry. However, the gravestone of Stromeyer
could not find in Göttingen. The grave of Gauss (Fig. 118) is in
the middle of the cemetery. The large granite grave stone isabout 2 m high, and holds a bronze relief of Gauss. In front of
the stone, his name and the date of birth and death are inscribed.
The gravestone of J. F. Gmelin was made of sandstone, whichsuffered weathering easily, and it was difficult to read the letterson the stone (Fig. 119). Johann Friedrich Herbart was famousin education and his grave is an iron Cross (Fig. 120).

Fig. 120 Johann Friedrich Herbart’s (1776-1841) grave is a black ironcross. He is a philosopher and pedagogist.

Bartholomaus Friedhof (Fig. 121-123).
We leave Albani Friedhof and head to Bartholomaus
Friedhof which is located in the opposite side of the old city from
Albani Friedhof. The Friedhof was old and did not hold many
Fig. 118 Gauss’s grave is in the Albani Friedhof. The grave is welldesigned and a relief of Gauss is on the high place of the stone.

gravestones.

Unfortunately, the letters on the stone weredifficult to read because of the weathering. I looked for threegraves of mathematicians, Abraham Gotthelf (1719-1800),
Alfred Clebsch (1833-1872) and Peter Gustav Dirichlet (18051859). But I could not find their graves probably because I
could not read letters on the weathered gravestones. I visitedthe grave of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799). The
gravestone is looks new.
reconstructed recently.

It seems that the grave was

The gravestone is a cross, andLichtenberg’s and his wife’s stones are standing side by side (Fig.
121). Lichtenberg was a professor of physics at Göttingen, atthe same time he was a famous critic. Lichtenberg’s patternproduced by electric discharge was known in physics. His wife
was originally his maid. The personal relationship between the236Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
maid and Lichlenberg proceed further to become a real couple.
Gottfried Augusut Bürger (1749-1794) is a lyric poet, and hisbronze bust and his grave are in this cemetery (Fig. 122, 123).

Fig. 123 Gottfried August Bürger (1747-1794) is a lyric German poet.
His grave (Fig. 122) and his bronze bust (Fig. 123) are in the
Bartholomaus Friedhof.

Chorus of the Church BellWe walked quite a long distance to visit the remains of thescientists in Göttingen. Just as we came back to the “Markt

Fig 121 Graves of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg and his wife are in the
Bartholomaus Friedhof. He was a professor of physics at
Göttingen and also a critic.

Platz”(Fig. 5) to take a meal, suddenly the church bells of thefour churches in the old city started to ring loudly.
Churchestablished

1) St. Johannis

1230 AD

2) St. Jacobi

1360 

3) St. Arbani

1434 

4) St. Michael1896 
The chorus of the bells of the four churches were going on for awhile. On the pavement of the ground at the “Market Platz”,
there was a metal plate indicating the directions to the fourchurches (Fig.6).
Celebration for newly born Ph D
On the way to my hotel, a group of students passed by.
One male student wearing a black gown was on a cart and agroup of people were pulling it. I thought it was an interesting
subject and I took pictures. The group went to the direction of“Markt Platz”. After I came back to my hotel I realized that thegroup were going to the Markt Platz to celebrate the birth of a
new Ph D. There is a tradition of celebration for newly born
Doctor at the Markt Platz and he gave a kiss to the bronze girl.
Fig. 122

I could not soon enough to recall the traditional ceremony for a237

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
across the rotary, there are gravestones of three famous persons.

new Ph D, and I missed an interesting chance to take pictures.

These are Wilhelm Eduart Weber (1804-1891) (Fig. 124),
Rudolf Jhering (1818-1892) (Fig. 127) and Max Born (1882-

Stadtfriedhof (City Cemetery), (Fig. 124-147).
In addition to the “Albani Friedhof” and “Bartholomaus

1970, Fig. 126). W. E. Weber was a founder of the theory ofFriedhof”, there is a large “Stadtfriedhof” about 1.52 km

electricity and he made the first telegram with Gauss. Many

distance west of Göttingen.

We can visit many graves ofother researches were made with cooperation with Gauss. In

famous scientists in this cemetery. This is a relatively new,

1837, he protested against the abolishment of the constitution

large (0.8 x 0.5 km), and well arranged cemetery.

and was expelled from Göttingen but he returned in 1849. He
was one of the so called Göttinger Sieben.

We pass underneath the railroad bridge south of Göttingenstation, and followed Gronerlandstrasse, and reach the north–east

On the right side of the Weber’s grave is Max Born’scorner of the cemetery. In the corner of the cemetery, there isgrave (Fig. 126). His gravestone is a stable thick large plate

an office (Friedhofsverwaltung) and we can get information

which is in good shape. On the gravestone following his namehere.

and his birth and death dates, quantum mechanical equation was
Map 1 shows a total area of the cemetery and thedescribed (pq – qp = h2i). Born was a professor of

following three maps (Map 2- 4) are the magnified partial maps

physics at the University of Berlin and Göttingen, and manyof the cemeteryyoung physicists were born from his school.

After the Nazi

Map 2 is the north –east corner of the cemetery, and therose, he left to the United Kingdom and became a professor at

grave sites of the famous persons are shown on the maps. As

the University of Edinburgh. He is one of the founders of

we enter the north east entrance of the cemetery, we find thequantum mechanics and received the Nobel Prize of physics inoffice of the cemetery on the right, and a residential house on the1953.

left. At the entrance, there is a small rotary, and on the left side

Map 1. Stadtfriedhof Göttingen

238

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Map 2. Stadtfriedhof Göttingen,
1. Wilhelm Weber (Physicist, 1804-1891).
2. Max Born (Physicist, 1882-1970).
3. Rudolf von Jhering (Jurist, 1818-1892).
4. Friedrich Wöhler (Chemist, 1800-1882).
5. Hans Hübner (Chemist,)
6. Georg Merkel (Mayor of Göttingen).
Fig. 126 Grave stone of Max Born (1882-1970, Physicist).

Fig 124 There is a large cemetery in the north west direction of the oldcity of Göttingen. The cemetery is called Stadtfriedhof (citycemetery). Many famous people were buried here. We can enter tothe cemetery from the north east corner.

Fig. 127 Graves tone of Rudolf von Jhering (1818-1892, Jurist).

The gravestone of R. Jehring is a high obelisk type. He isa founder of “historical law”.
Fig. 125 When we entered to the cemetery from the entrance nearfrom the office, there is a small rotary. In the left side across therotary, there are three graves. These are Wilhelm Weber (1804-1891,
physicist), Max Born (1882-1970, Physicist) and Rudolf von Jhering(1818-1892, Jurist).

We passed by the cemetery office and proceeded about
100 m to the west, and entered the grave site of F. Wöhler’sfamily (Fig. 128). His gravestone (Fig. 129) is a coffin type and239

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
is not covered with ivy, and a “star” is in the middle of the stone
plate. The writing shows that he was born in 1800 and died in
1882. The left side of Wöhler’s grave is his wife’s grave,
which is covered with ivy. There are 56 gravestones in thefamily site including George Merkel (Fig. 130) who was the
Mayor of Göttingen and was the husband of F. Wöhler’sdaughter Sophie. Merkel’s gravestone is a high obelisk type.
The graves of other members of Merkel’s family were in the site
across the street. Just behind F. Wöhler’s grave identical shapesof H. Hübners grave (Fig. 131) covered with moss is there.
Hübner was a pupil of Wöhler and successor of the laboratory.

Fig. 130 Oberisk type grave stone of Merker who is a son in law ofWöhler s daughter. Once he was a mayor of Göttingen (Fig. 130).

Fig. 128 Family cemetery site of Wöhler s.

Fig. 131 When we stand facing to Wöhler s’ grave, H. Hubnlr’s grave isjust back side. Hübner was the successor of Wöhler.

If we walked further we can find the main entrance of the
Stadt Friedhof. The main entrance is open from morning to thelate afternoon, somewhat longer than that of the north-east cornerentrance.
We turn left (south) at the main gate, there is a Kapelle

Fig. 129 Grave stone of F. Wöhler

(Fig. 132). There are three famous scientist’s graves around the
Kapelle (Fig. 132) (Map 3). The first grave is that of Otto
Wallach (1847-1931, chemist) (Fig. 133), the next is that of Felix
Klein (1849-1925, mathematician) ( Fig. 134), and the third oneis that of Karl Schwartzschild (1873-1916, astrophysicist) (Fig.
135),(Map 3).

240

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 133 Grave stone of Otto Wallach (1847-1931, Chemist)

Felix Klein (Mathematician, 1849-1925), (Fig. 134).
When we proceed further to the south, we can find Felix
Klein’s gravestone, located south-west of the Kapelle. The
gravestone is a thick light colored stone, and his name (Felix

Fig. 132 A Kapelle is in the Stadt Friedhof.

Klein) is engraved in large letters on the stone. Klein was agreat mathematician in the field of geometry. Klein and Hilbert
have been the mathematical leaders in the world at that time. In
the lower part of the gravestone, there are three chrysanthemum
like flowers.

Fig. 134 The grave of great mathematician Felix Klein is (1849-1925) inthe bush.

Map 3. Stadtfriedhof Göttingen,
7. Flex Klein (Mathematician, 1849-1925).
8. Karl Schwalzschild (Astronomer, 1873-1916).
9. Otto Wallach (Chemist, 1847-1931).

Karl Schwarzschild (Astrophysicist, 1873-1916), (Fig. 135).
South-east of the small rotary and to the north of the
Kapelle, there is a light colored gravestone of Karl
Schwarzschild with a celestial globe on the top. He was born inFrankfurt am Main.

He was a genius boy, and wrote an

astronomical article when he was 16 years old. He studied in
München under Hugo Seeliger (1849-1924) and he became a241

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Rosenbach family.

Agness Rosenbach’s grave is locatedclosely. Agness was probably a sister of Elise judging from herage.

Close to Schwarzschild’s grave, there is Friedrich

Rosenbach’s (Anatomist, 1842-1923) grave.

In the city of

Göttingen, there is Rosenbach-weg to commemorate thescholar’s establishment.
Otto Wallach (Chemist, 1847-1931), (Fig. 133).
South -west from the Schwarzchilde’s grave, there is thegrave of the great organic chemist Otto Wallach in the shade oflarge trees.

Wallach was born in Königsberg (nowKaliningrad) of east Preussen.

He studied chemistry in

Göttingen under Wöhler, and then moved to Bonn as an assistantof Kekule in 1870. At that time, Kekule thought that terpene
chemistry was too complex to perform chemical research.
However after becoming a professor of chemistry at Göttingen
Fig. 135 Grave stone of Karl Schwazschild (1873-1916, Astrophysicist)
is standing with a celestialglobe on the top.

in 1889, Wallach initiated studies on terpene chemistry.
He separated and characterized many terpenes and studied
their structures and established the foundation of terpene

professor of astronomy in Göttingen, and also he became thechemistry.

head of the astronomical observatory of the University of

Later, Vitamin A and D were shown to be

derivatives of terpene, and Wallach was awarded the Nobel Prize

Göttingen.

Chemistry in 1910. In 1915, he retired from the position of the

He volunteered for military service in the First World War,

director of the Laboratory of General Chemistry of University of

but returned from the front because of skin disease. His last

Göttingen.

two theoretical papers were written when he was still in the
Russian front. He wrote papers on the general law of relativity,

Graves of famous persons in the south-east corner of theand discussed on the high gravitational field and he clarified the

Stadtfriedhof (Map 4).

process for the formation of black hole. The Schwarzschild’s

In the south-east corner of the Stadtfriedhof, there areradius came from his theoretical papers. If the star contract

many graves of great scientists. This area is a special territory

itself by gravity to some limit, the gravitational field is so strong

in the cemetery.

that nothing (even light) can escape from the field. By the end

Lets start to visit the grave of the great

Mathematician David Hilbert.

of 20th century, several evidences for the existence of black hole
had been observed, therefore supporting Schwartzchildd’s
hypothesis.
His wife’s name is Elise and she came from the,10.David Hilbert (Mathematician, 1862-1943).
11.Max Planck (Physicist, 1858-1947).
12.Otto Hahn (Physicist, 1879-1968).
13.Walther Nernst (Chemist, 1864-1941).
14. Adolf Windaus (Chemist. 1876-1959)
15. Max von Laue (Physicist, 1879-1960).
16. Herman Nohl (Philosopher, 1879- 1960)
17. Richard Zsigmondl (Chemist, 1865- 1929)
18. Gustav Tammann(Chemist, 1861-1938).
Map 4. Stadtfriedhof Göttingen242

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
David Hilbert (Mathematician, 1862-1943), (Fig. 137, 138).

Max Planck (Physicist, 1858-1948), (Fig. 140).

Hilbert was born in Königsberg, as Otto Wallach. He

Max Planck’s grave is similar to that of Hilbert’s inshows his genius ability in mathematics in his boys days. He

appearance and also in style. On the Planck’s gravestone, only

became a professor of mathematics at the University of

his name was engraved, and the “Planck’s constant” is on the

Göttingen at the age 28, and he studied various mathematicalbottom. The Planks constant is the most fundamental physicalfields. In the year 1900, at the Second International Congressconstant which was found by Planck. Max Planck became aof Mathematics in Paris, Hilbert proposed 23 mathematicalprofessor of the Berlin University, and he received the Nobel

problems that mathematicians should solve in the future. In

Prize of Physics in 1918, however he had hard time during the1930 city of Göttingen offered honorary citizenship to Hilbert.

war, because he refused to cooperate with the Nazi.

His memorial lecture ended with the following words “Wirmussen wissen, wir werden wissen”. Hibert’s famous words
are engraved on the bottom of the gravestone. The simple
words show his positive concern toward the unknown, and his
belief that the unknown will be clarified.

Fig. 140 The gravestone of the great physicist Max Planck (1858-1947)
is similar to that of David Hilbert. In the bottom of the gravestone,
Planck’s constant is described.
Otto Haln (Chemist, 1879-1968), (Fig. 141, 142).
Fig. 137 In the bottom of the gravestone of the great mathematician
David Hilbert (1862-1943), there described the famous words “Wirmussen wissen wir werden wissen”.

On the upper part of the Otto Hahn’s gravestone, hisname was engraved in a large letters, and the equation of
nuclear fission of Uranium 235 by neutron irradiation was
written on the bottom of the stone. The style of Otto Hahn’s
grave is similar to D. Hilbert and M. Planck.
Otto Hahn is a pioneer of nuclear fission, however, during
the discoverry of the nuclear fission of Uranium 235, coworkers
such as Lise Meitner (1878-1968) and Fritz Strassmann (19021980) were involved. Rather recently, Liese Meitner’s bust
was put on the “Ehren Saar” of “Deutsches Museum”.
Therefore, L. Meitner’s contribution in the finding of nuclear
fission was recognized. Hahn and Strassmann received theFig. 138 In the bottom of the gravestone. We can read David Hilbert’s
famous words.

Nobel Prize of Chemistry in 1944.
The style of the gravestone of D. Hilbert, M. Planck and243Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Otto Hahn are unique and the average person could not use thestyle.

Fig. 143 Family Grave stone of physical chemist Walther Nernst (18641941).

Adolf Windaus (Chemist, 1876-1959), (Fig. 144).
Next to the gravestone of O. Hahn is the grave of Adolf
Windaus. Windaus studied in Marburg and then engaged inresearch in Innsbruck. He became a professor of chemistry at
Göttingen in 1915. He studied on the chemistry of Steroid, andis a pioneer of steroid chemistry. Windaus received the Noble
Prize of Chemistry in 1928.

Fig. 141

Fig. 142 Otto Haln is a pioneer of nuclear fission. In the bottom of his
grave stone, equation of a nuclear fission using 235U and neuron isengraved.
Walther Hermann Nernst (Physical Chemist, 1864-1941), (Fig.
143).
Nernst studied physics, and became an assistant ofWilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932)

in 1887.

Fig. 144 Grave stone of organic chemist Adolf Windaus (1876-1959).

He moved to

Göttingen in 1891 as a professor of physical chemistry. He

Max Theodor Felix Laue (Physicist, 1879-1960), (Fig. 145).

proposed new theories of thermodynamics of electric cell andLaue was born in Koblenz by the river Rhein.

chemical reactions, and he contributed to the development ofstudied in Strasburg and then in Berlin under M. Planck. He

physical chemistry. He became a professor of chemistry at

moved to München in 1909 and studied X-ray. He irradiatedBerlin University and he found third law of thermodynamics.

X-ray to a crystal in 1912 and obtained interference patterns

Nernst received the Nobel Prize of Chemistry in 1920.

indicating that the X-ray is a short electromagnetic wave. He

Healso found the way to clarify the crystal structure by using theinterference pattern. He received the Nobel Prize of Physics in244Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
1914. In the main building of the München University, large

Richard Zsigmondy (Chemist, 1865-1929), (Fig. 146).

bronze plaque to celebrate the finding of “Laue’s sopt” wasRichard Zsigmondy was born in Wien and studied there.

displayed on the wall of a Hof.. He became a professor of

He taught at Graz, then worked in a Glass Company in Jena, hetheoretical physics at the Berlin University in 1919, but hestudied colloid chemistry and he invented Supermicroscope.

resigned his position in 1943 because of his political standpoint.

He became a professor of chemistry at Göttingen in 1908, and hereceived the Nobel Prize of Chemistry in 1925.

His

Supermicroscope contributed to the development of colloid
chemistry, however because of the development of the electron
microscope, his optical Supermicroscope gave up it’s dominantposition to the more advanced electronic instrument.

Fig. 145 Grave stone of physicist Max von Laue (1879-1960) who
found diffraction of X-ray by using crystal.

Herman Nohl (Philosopher, 1879-1960), (Fig. 139).
He was a philosopher and pedagogist. He was born inBerlin. He became a professor in Göttingen in 1920. He wasFig. 146 Grave stone of colloid chemist Richard Adolf Zsigmondy(1865-1929).

a Hegelian. I visited Nohl’s grave by the advice of my friend
philosopher.

Gustav Tammann (Physical Chemist, 1861-1938), (Fig. 147).
On the other side of the cemetery (see Map), you can findGustav Tammann’s grave. This is a family grave site and half adozen similar gravestones are in this site. Gustav Tammann’s
gravestone is 2nd from the right.

Tammann was born inPetersburg (Russia) and studied in Germany. Tammann met
with W. Ostwald, S. Arrhenius and W. Nernst and they becameclose friends. In the year 1902, the Laboratory of Inorganic
Chemistry was established in Göttingen and Tammann became
the professor of inorganic chemistry. He was a specialist of
metals, and metal compounds. He also studied equilibrium inheterogeneous systems. Kotaro Honda (physicist, 1870-1954),
who was also a metal specialist,

studied at Tammann’slaboratory. Later Honda prepared a powerful magnetic steel(KS steel), and his plaque is displayed in the Kreutzberg Strassewith a plaque of Teiji Takagi (1875-1960). Honda and Takagi

Fig. 139 Grave of Hermann Nohl who was a philosopher andpedagogist.

245

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
encyclopedia and handbooks. Publications of the “Beilstein’s

are Japanese scholars.

Handbook”, “Gmelins Handbook” and “Landolt-Bornstein’s
Physicochemical Tables” were typical cases in the field of
natural sciences in Germany. The plaques displaying in the citywere reflections of this German character.
It seems that the number of plaques in the university cities
are larger than that of non -university cities. Exact number ofplaques in Göttingen is unknown at the present time. It wassaid that the number of plaque after the 2nd World War was about
220.
Fig. 147 In the Tammann’s family grave site, six gravestones are on the

new the total number of plaques in Göttingen is probably about

ground. Gustav Tammanne’s grave is 2nd from right.

250. Lets think about the case of city of Jena. Jena has been afamous university city since 1558. Now populated about

Family grave site of Sartorius (Fig. 136).

100,000. The numbers of plaques in the city of Jena are moreYears ago, when I was walking around in thethan 300 according to a guidebook. I saw a house in Jena

Stadtfriedhof , I passed by a large family grave site covered withdisplayiing so many plaques, that the house looked like a large

beautiful flowers. I found out that this is the grave-site of thetravel trunk with many travel labels pasted on.

Sartorius family, the famous balance-maker. When I was a

In order to display a plaque for some person, a responsible

student (1950) the electric balance was a precious andconvenient instrument.

After then, plaques were added and also removed, andcitizen must propose a plan to the city committee which qualify

The Sartorius balance I used camethe proposal by going through the proper channel. This processfrom Göttingen a half century ago.

was carried out in strict way, and sometime the proposal was not
approved.
All of the plaques in Göttingen were made of whitemarble, except that of Felilx Kleins one (red brown color), (Fig.
158) as far as I know. The size of old marble plate was said tobe 35 cm x 48 cm, but were not necessarily the same.

Aninteresting process is going on slowly that is the replacement of
the old plaque with new one. The letters on the old plate is
written in old German style, and the new plaque is written incontemporary style and the size of the plate is a little larger thanFig. 136 Accidentally I pass by the family grave site of Sartorius who are
famous for the production of balances and other instruments. Beautiful
flowers are in bloom.

the old one. You can see the old and new plaques for Robert

Plaques for Scientists in Göttingen (Fig. 148-163, Map 5).

Hospital-strasse, and the plaques show the history of the

Bunsen (chemist) in the Goethe Allee (Fig. 149-152).
Four plaques are displayed on the “Wöhler Haus” at theMemorial plates are called “plaque” in English, which

chemistry department in Göttingen from 18th to 20th century (Fig.

is French in origin, and it is called “Gedenktafel” in German.

148). The plaques are for Johann Friedrich Gmelin (1748-

We find many plaques of famous people in European cities,

1804), Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853), Friedrich Wöhler (1800-

by which we can get various information where they were

1802) and Otto Wallach (1847-1931).

born, lived, worked and died. It is also true in Germany,building (Wöhler Haus) is now used for the Institute for metal

especially in the university cities. The display of plaque inphysics.

the city came from the citizens love and respect to the person,

Famous chemist Hermann Adolf Wilhelm Kolbe (1818-

and the feelings crystallized to make a plaque in the city.

1884) was born in a parsonage at Eliehausen near Göttingen (Fig.
153). Kolbe studied in Göttingen and worked under Bunsen atGerman people love to systematize or to arrange various
facts or things in order.

The old wooden

Marburg. He was promoted to a professor of chemistry at

They love to make dictionary,246

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Marburg in 1852. He moved to the University of Leipzig in

dioxide.

He was also famous as a controversialist in the1865. He was famous for his “Type Theory” and for “Kolbe

chemical theories.

Reaction” to synthesize salicylic acid from phenol and carbon

above the entrance of the building.

Kolbe’s plaque (Fig. 154) is displayed

Map 5. Some Plaques of Scientitsts in Göttingen.

Fig. 148 On the wall of “Wöhler Haus” four new plaques were displayed. These are J. F. Gmelin, L. Gmelin, F. Wöhler and O. Wallach (see black arrows).
They are all chemists.

247

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 150
Fig. 149, 150 Old(Fig. 149) and new (Fig. 150) plaques for R. W.
Bunsen at Göethealee 22.

Fig. 149

Fig. 152

Fig. 151
Fig. 152 Old (Fig. 151) and new (fig. 152) plaques of four persons (Humboldt, Tieck, von Stein and
Migue

Fig. 153.

248

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fgi. 15 4
Fig. 153, 154 Fig. 153 is a parsonage in Eliehausen near Göttingen where chemist
Hermann Adolf Wilhelm Kolbe (1818-1884) was born. You can see a plaque (Fig.
154) pointed by arrow in Fig. 153

Fig. 155 Carl Friedrich Gauss
stayed here
1808-1816
Mathematician, Physicist (in modern style)Fig. 156 C. F. Gauss
stayed here
1796-1799
Ledwig Harms 1828-1830(inold style)Fig. 157 Karl Schwarzschildstayed here
1901-1909
Astrophysicist

Fig. 158 Felix Klein
stayed here1901-1909
Mathematician
Kleine’s plaque is red brown in color

249

Fig. 159 Robert Kochstayed here
1862-1866
PhysicianFig. 160 Max Planck
stayed here
1945-1947
PhysicistViva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 161 James Franck
stayed here
1921-1933
Physicist

Fig. 162 Max von Laue
stayed here
1946-1951
Physicist

Fig. 163 Otto Hahn
stayed here
1953-1968
Chemist, Physicist

Some of the plaques of scientists in Göttingen wereA few years ago, a new plaque was displayed at thephotographed by the author, and these are shown from Fig. 155-

Judenstrasse in Göttingen. The plaque is for William Smith

163 and also in Map 5.

Clark, 1826-1886, who is an American scholar famous in Japanfor his saying “Boys be ambitious”.

Table 1. Some plaques of Scientists in Göttingen
Scientists

period stayed Specialty

He was originally achemist who received his Ph D degree by his analytical work ofiron meteorites under Friedrich Wöhler. He is probably the first

Fig

American student in the chemistry department in Göttingen.
1808-1816

Mathematician

155

1796-1798

Mathematician

156

Karl Schwargschild 1901-1909

Astrophysicist

157

He wrote his Ph D thesis in English. His interest changed from

Carl F. Gausschemistry to agriculture and he came to Japan. He contributed
to Japan as an educator.

One problem is that a word

“Geochemist” ( ) is described on the plaque inJapanese. The plaque is displayed for German citizen not forHermann Kolbe

1818-1826

ChemistJapanese. I am wondering why such a Japanese word was

154

engraved on the plaque, and what is his contribution to science ?
Felix Klein

1901-1909

Mathematician

158
Street names came from famous scientists

Robert Koch

1862-1866

Physician

159

Max Planck

1945-1947

Physicist

160

James Frank

1921-1933

Physicist161

Max von Laue

1946-1951

Physicist

162

Otto Hahn

1953-1968

Chemist

163

Most of the street names of Göttingen came from thenames of famous persons. They are poet, philosopher, scientist
mathematician, musician, physicist, historian, artist and jurist.
Some photographs of the street name plates came from famousscientists are shown in Fig. 164-177 and also summarized inTable 2.
I hope the reader of the article may take a short time tomake a walk trip to visit individual plaque and street-name platein the city.

It would be an interesting trip historically,

scientifically and of course good for your health.

250

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 164 Bunsenstr.
Robert Bunsenborn - died1811 - 1899
ChemistFig. 165 Albert Einstein-Str.
Albert Einsteinborn - died1879 - 1955
Physicist

Fig. 166 GauszstrasseFriedrich Gauss
born - died1777 -1855
Mathematician,Physicist

Fig. 168 David-Hilbert-Str.
David Hilbert
1862-1943
Mathematician

Fig. 167 Humboldtallee
Alxander v. Humboldt
1769-1859
Naturalist

Fig. 169 Felix-Klein-Str.
Felix Klein
1849-1925
Mathematician

251

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 170 Jmmanuel-Kant-Str.
Immanuel Kant
1724-1804
Philosopher

Fig. 172 Walter-Nernst-Weg
Walther Nernst
1864-1941
ChemistFig. 174 Otto-Wallach-Wig
Otto Wallach
1847-1931
ChemistFig. 171 Lilienthalstr.
Otto Lillienthal
1848-1896
Inventor

Fig. 173 Riemannstrasse
Bernhard Riemann
1826-1866
Mathematician

Fig. 175 Wöhler strasseFriedrich Wöhler
1800-1882
Chemist252

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254

Fig. 176 Zeppelinstrasse
Ferdinard Graf von Zeppelin
1838-1917
Inventor

Fig. 177 Richard Zsigmondi-Weg
Richard Zsigmondy
1865-1929
ChemistTable. 2, Street Names in Göttingen Employing Name of Scientists
Street Name
Albert-Einstein-Strasse
Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse
Albrecht-Thaer-Weg
Albrecht-von Haller -Strasse
Benzstrasse
Blumenbachstrasse
Bunsenstrasse
Carl-Zeiss-Strasse
DaimlerstrasseDavid-Hillbert-Strasse
Enrico-Fermi-Strasse
Ernst-Abbe-Strasse
Felix-Klein-Strasse
Fridtjof-Nansen-Weg
Gaussstrasse
Goethe-Allee
Goldschmidtstrasse
Gustav-Hertz-Ecke
Gutenbergstrasse
Hermann-Kolbe-Strasse
Hermann-Weyl-Stieg
Humboldtallee
Immanuel-Kant –Strasse
James-Franck-Ring
Karl-Schwarzschild-Weg
Keplerstrasse
Kopernikusstrasse
Leibnizstrasse
Lichtenbergstrasse
Lilienthalstrasse
Ludwig-Prandtl-Strasse

Name of Scientist
Albert Einstein
Albert Schweitzer
Albrecht Danier Thaer
Albrecht von Haller
Carl Friedrich Benz
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach
Wihelm Robert Bunsen
Carl Zeiss
Gotlieb Wilhelm Daimler
David Hillbert
Enrico Fermi
Ernst Abbe
Felix Klein
Fridtjof Nansen
Johann Carl Freindrich Gauss
Johann Wolfgang von Geothe
Victor Moritz Goldschmidt
Gustav Hertz
Johannes Gutenberg
Hermann Kolbe
Hermann Weyl
Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt
Immanuel Kant
James FranckKarl Schwarzschildt
Johannes Kepler
Nikolaus Kopernikus
Gottfried Wilhelm Freiherr
von Leibniz
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Otto Lilienthal
Ludwig Prandtl

253

Field
Physicist
Physicist, Musician
Agronomist
Naturalist
Industrialist
PhysicianChemistIndustrialist
Inventor
Mathematician
Physicist
Physicist
Mathematician
Geologist
Mathematician
Poet, Naturalist
Geo-chemist
Physicist
Inventor
ChemistMathematician
Naturalist
Philosopher
Astronomer
Astronomer
Astronomer
Astronomer
Philosopher
Mathematician
Physicist
Inventor
Physicist

Birth Death
1879—1955
1875—1965
1752—1828
1708—1797
1844—1929
1752—1840
1811—1899
1816—1888
1834—1900
1862—1943
1901—1954
1840—1905
1849—1925
1861—1930
1777—1855
1749—1832
1888—1947
1887—1975
1397—1468
1818—1884
1858—1955
1769—1859
1724—1804
1882—1964
1873—1916
1571—1630
1473—1543
1646—1716
1742—1799
1848—1896
1875—1953

Viva Origino 30 (2002) 229 - 254
Street NameMaria-Goppert-Weg
Max-Born-Ring
Max-von-Laue-Weg
Minkowskiweg
Otto-Hahn-Strasse
Otto-Wallach-Weg
Richart-Zsigmondy-Weg
Riemannstrasse
Robert-Koch-Strasse
Rosenbachweg
Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse
Sternstrasse
Tammannstrasse
von Siebold-Strasse
Walther-Nernst-Weg
Werner-Heisenberg-Platz
Werner-von Siemens-Strasse
Wilhelm-Weber-Strasse
Wöhler platz
Wöhler strasse
Wolfgang-Pauli-Weg
Zeppelinstrasse

Name of Scientist
Maria Goppret
Max Born
Max von Laue
Hermann Minkowski
Otto Hahn
Otto Wallach
Richart Zsigmondy
Bernhard Riemann
Robert KochFriedrich Julius Rosenbach
Rudolf Diesel
Moritz Abraham Stern
Gustav Tammann
Karl Kasper Jokob von Siedbold
Walther Nernst
Werner Heisenberg
Werner von Siemens
Wilhelm Weber
Friedlich Wöhler

Field
Physicist
Physicist
Physicist
Mathematician
Physical Chemist
ChemistPhysical Chemist
Mathematician
Bacteriologist
Bacteriologist
Inventor
Mathematician
Physical Chemist
Physicist
Physical Chemist
Physicist
Industrialist
Physicist
ChemistBirth Death
1906—1972
1882—1870
1879—1960
1964—1909
1879—1968
1847—1931
1865—1929
1826—1866
1843—1910
1842—1923
1858—1913
1807—1894
1861—1938
1801—1861
1864—1941
1901—1976
1816—1892
1804—1891
1800—1882

Wolfgang Pauli
Fredinand Graf von Zeppelin

Physicist
Invenntor

1900—1958
1838—1917

Acknowledgment
I would like to thank Dr. Günther Beer of the University of
Göttingen for his kind supply of many valuable informations towrite the article. I am also appreciated to Dr. Kazuo Harada ofTokyo Gakugei University for his efforts to improve the article.
Thanks are extended to Ms. Hiroko Eto for her editing work of thisarticle.
All photographs appeared in this article were taken by theauthor Kaoru Harada.

254