Franz de Paula Triesnecker

Who was Franz de Paula Triesnecker?

Franz de Paula Triesnecker was an Austrian Jesuit astronomer.

Triesnecker was born in Mallon, Kirchberg am Wagram, Austria. When he was 16 he joined the Society of Jesus. He studied philosophy in Vienna and mathematics at Tyrnau, then became a teacher. Following the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773, he moved to Graz to complete his studies in theology. Following his ordination, he eventually became assistant director of the Vienna Observatory. In 1792 he succeeded Maximilian Hell as director, and remained at this post for the rest of his life.

During his career he published a number of treatises on astronomy and geography. Much of his work was dedicated to the ephemerides of Vienna. He made a series of measurements of celestial bodies, which were published from 1787 until 1806.

The crater Triesnecker on the Moon is named after him.