Catholic scientist and physicist. Born Straubing, Bavaria, 1787; died Munich, Germany, 1826. At the age of twelve he became an apprentice to a lens-grinder, working six years without pay. By his unaided efforts he rose to be professor royal in the Munich optical institute, 1819. His fame rests chiefly on his initiation of spectrum analysis, the discovery of the Fraunhofer lines in the solar spectrum and his establishing of the laws of diffraction.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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