RePoSS #11: The Mathematics of Niels Henrik Abel: Continuation ...

24 Chapter 2. Biography of NIELS HENRIK ABEL
In the first issue of the Magazin, the 21 year old ABEL had his first publication.
Inspired by EULER’S Institutiones calculi differentialis and A.-M. LEGENDRE’S (1752–
1833) Exercises de calcul integral, ABEL solved two problems in the integral calculus. 19
In the same year, a second publication by ABEL dealing with the theory of elimina-
tion was published in the Magazin. 20 On this occasion, HANSTEEN found it necessary
to add an introduction in which he — summoning G. GALILEI (1564–1642), I. NEW-
TON (1642–1727), and C. HUYGENS (1629–1695) — argued that mathematics even in
its purest form was within the scope of the magazine devoted to the natural sciences.
Taking into account the limited circulation of the Magazin and HANSTEEN’S efforts to
make ABEL’S work acceptable to the audience, it is doubtful how much ABEL gained
from these publications. But to a young man — still nothing but a studiosus — getting
his name on printed paper must have been a great satisfaction.
When ABEL’S publications in the Magazin were first noticed, it was for all the
wrong reasons. In 1824, ABEL published some computations pertaining to the influ-
ence of the Moon on the movement of a pendulum. 21 This problem fitted nicely into a
research project concerning the magnetic field of the Earth with which HANSTEEN was
immensely involved. Upon HANSTEEN’S request, the paper was sent to H. C. SCHU-
MACHER (1784–1873) in Altona, who edited the journal Astronomische Nachrichten [As-
tronomical intelligencer], for possible republication therein. However, SCHUMACHER
realized that ABEL had made a computational error which had led him to estimate the
influence of the Moon to be ten times stronger than was rightfully supported. SCHU-
MACHER refused to publish the paper, and a correction was subsequently inserted in
the Magazin. 22
2.2.3 Visiting Copenhagen
In 1823, ABEL for the first time left Norway to go on his first educational tour. Sup-
ported privately by professor RASMUSSEN, ABEL traveled to Copenhagen to visit and
discuss with the mathematicians there.
Mathematics in the capital. The mathematical milieu in Copenhagen was not com-
pletely different from the one in Christiania. 23 In 1823, the mathematical profession
was centered around the university and the academy of science; six years later, Den
Polytekniske Læreanstalt [The polytechnic college] 24 was opened. Despite the university
19 (N. H. Abel, 1823)
20 (ibid.)
21 (N. H. Abel, 1824c).
22 (N. H. Abel, 1824a).
23 The mathematical milieu in Copenhagen in the first half of the nineteenth century has been the subject
of a subsequent study by the author in the Danish History of Science project undertaken at the
History of Science Department at the University of Aarhus. The interested reader may also wish to
consult the dissertation (in Danish) by KURT RAMSKOV (Ramskov, 1995, chapter 1) or STUBHAUG’S
book (Stubhaug, 2000, chapter 31) for information.
24 Today Danmarks Tekniske Universitet [Technical University of Denmark].