Wytze Foppes (1707 - 1778)

Field(s) of interest: scientific instruments | mathematics | astronomy | surveying
Gender: male

Born: Dongjum, 16-09-1707
Died: Leeuwarden, 08-02-1778

Biography:
Scientific instrument maker in Leeuwarden. Originally trained as a carpenter, Foppes eventually became a surveyor and scientific instrument maker. Around 1750, he settled as a telescope and microscope maker. He made also medical, mathematical and surveying instruments. He made two trigonometric machines for Stadholder Willem IV, one of which was donated to the Leiden University by Willem's widow, Anna van Hannover. Foppes made astronomical observations; in 1760 the Gedeputeerde Staten of Friesland awarded him a grant of 250 guilders to build a device for observing the transit of Venus, in June 1761. He was also assigned an observation site, the Cammingaburg just outside Leeuwarden. Foppes Dongjuma also invented a magnetic variometer, probably in 1765.

Collections: Museum Boerhaave, Leiden; Universiteitsmuseum, Utrecht; Universiteitsmuseum, Groningen; Eisinga-Planetarium, Franeker; Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam (a Holland circle).


Occupations:
scientific instrument maker and astronomical observer: 1751 - 1775 (Leeuwarden)

Sources:
Rooseboom, M., Bijdrage tot de geschiedenis der instrumentmakerskunst in de noordelijke Nederlanden (Leiden 1950).

Clercq, P. de., ‘A Princely Piece from Friesland. The ‘‘Trigonometrical Instrument’’ of Wytze Foppes’, Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society 47 (1995), 14-16.

Grooss, K. 'Chirurgische instrumentenverzameling'', in: F.G. Huisman, Gezond weer op in Groningen : gezondheidszorg en medisch beroep 1500-1900 (Groningen 1993).

Mörzer Bruyns, W.F.J, 'Lijst van instrumenten in de verzameling van het Nederlandsch Historisch Scheepvaart Museum Amsterdam'. (Amsterdam 1971).

Zuidervaart, H.J., Speculatie, wetenschap en vernuft : fysica & astronomie volgens Wytze Foppes Dongjuma (1707-1778), instrumentmaker te Leeuwarden (Leeuwarden 1995).

Zuidervaart, H.J. 'Reflecting 'Popular Culture' : The Introduction, Diffusion, and Construction of the Reflecting Telescope in the Netherlands', Annals of Science 61, afl. 4 (2004), 407-452.

Zuidervaart, H.J., Van 'Konstgenoten' en hemelse fenomenen. Nederlandse sterrenkunde in de achttiende eeuw (Rotterdam 1999).