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Book/Printed Material Astronomical and Physical Observations Made in the Realm of Peru. Observaciones astronómicas, y phisicas hechas de orden de S. Mag en los reinos del Perù

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About this Item

Title

  • Astronomical and Physical Observations Made in the Realm of Peru.

Other Title

  • Observaciones astronómicas, y phisicas hechas de orden de S. Mag en los reinos del Perù

Summary

  • Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1713-73) was born in Alicante, Valencia. A humanist, naval engineer, and scientist, he was one of the most prominent scholars of the Spanish Enlightenment. A versatile man who promoted Enlightenment ideas in Spain, he enjoyed prestige throughout Europe, where he was known as "the learned Spaniard." His observations led to improvements in the metric system and helped to determine the exact shape of the Earth, proving that it is not perfectly round. He also played a decisive role in the reform of shipyards during the rule of King Ferdinand VI and in the improvement of the academic education of midshipmen. He was the author of a most important work on the construction of ships, Examen marítimo (Maritime exam), published in 1771, a guide that was translated into all European languages. He measured the longitude of the meridian of the Earth, thus demonstrating that the planet is flattened at the poles. In 1735, together with Antonio de Ulloa, he was selected to join a Franco-Spanish expedition to measure the Equator and determine the degree of flattening at the poles and to perfect a theory on the shape of the Earth. He returned to Spain in 1745. In 1748 he published the book presented here, Observaciones astronómicas y físicas, hechas de orden de S.M. en los reinos del Perú (Physical and astronomical observations made by order of H.M. [His Majesty] in the Kingdoms of Peru), as well as Relación histórica del viaje a la América meridional (Historical account of the trip to South America). In 1751 he was appointed captain of the Midshipmen Company of Cadiz, where the most advanced naval education of the time was provided. Among other initiatives, he founded the Astronomical Observatory of Cadiz and created the Asamblea Amistosa Literaria, predecessor to the Academy of Sciences. During his final years he served as a diplomat in Morocco and as a consultant on various matters to the Ministry of State and the Council of Castile in Madrid.

Names

  • Fuente, Vicente de la, active 1748 Contributor.
  • Juan, Jorge, 1713-1773 Author.
  • Palomino, Juan Bernabé, 1692-1777 Engraver.
  • Ulloa, Antonio de, 1716-1795 Author.

Created / Published

  • Madrid : Zúñiga, Juan de, 1536-1586|J. Zuñiga, 1748.

Headings

  • -  Ecuador
  • -  1748
  • -  Earth (Planet)
  • -  Geodesy
  • -  Scientific expeditions
  • -  Scientific surveys
  • -  Voyages and travels

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 396 pages : illustrations ; 21 x 27 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: Valencian Library Nicolau Primitiu.
  • -  Content in Spanish.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666992

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Fuente, Vicente De La, Active 1748 Contributor, Jorge Juan, Juan Bernabé Palomino, and Antonio De Ulloa. Astronomical and Physical Observations Made in the Realm of Peru. Madrid: Zúñiga, Juan de, to 1586|J. Zuñiga, 1748, 1748. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666992/.

APA citation style:

Fuente, V. D. L., Juan, J., Palomino, J. B. & Ulloa, A. D. (1748) Astronomical and Physical Observations Made in the Realm of Peru. Madrid: Zúñiga, Juan de, to 1586|J. Zuñiga, 1748. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666992/.

MLA citation style:

Fuente, Vicente De La, Active 1748 Contributor, et al. Astronomical and Physical Observations Made in the Realm of Peru. Madrid: Zúñiga, Juan de, to 1586|J. Zuñiga, 1748, 1748. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666992/>.