Abstract
THIS eminent Italian physicist, whose death we recently recorded, was born at Rome on January 8, 1804. He lost his mother a few days after his birth; his father was Prof. Alexander Volpicelli, a member of the Medical College of the Roman University. Paolo was educated at the college of Veroli and the University of Rome, where, in accordance with the wish of his father, he commenced the study of medicine, but abandoned it after the first year, declaring that medicine was not a science. Of his own accord he applied himself seriously to the course of mathematical philosophy, and four years later received the degree of doctor ad honorem in that faculty. It should be mentioned that doctorates ad honorem are given to only two students each year, and Volpicelli's fellow-doctor was the eminent Professor Tortolini, who followed the same course. Before leaving the University his professors recommended him to the Government for a scientific position. In fact, Prof. Morichini wished to name him his successor to the Chair of Chemistry in the University of Rome, but Volpicelli preferred to succeed Dr. Barlocci, Professor of Experimental Physics in the same University, and in 1845, on the death of Barlocci, became titular professor. Volpicelli occupied this chair till 1873, when he was appointed Professor of Mathematical Physics in the same University. In 1851 he was made a member of the Philosophical College, an honour accorded to only twelve professors of the University of Rome. Besides his position at this University, Volpicelli also filled that of Professor of Mathematical Physics at the Roman Seminary, taught geometry to the pupils of St. Michael's Hospital, and founded at Rome the special School of Artillery, of which le was director for thirty years.
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Paolo Volpicelli . Nature 20, 126–127 (1879). https://doi.org/10.1038/020126b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/020126b0