1. Gotthilf Heinrich Ludwig Hagen was a German civil engineer who made important contributions to fluid dynamics, hydraulic engineering and probability theory.
16 Facts About Gotthilf Hagen
1. 2.
Gotthilf Hagen's father was a government official and his mother was the daughter of Christian Reccard, professor of Theology at University of Konigsberg, consistorial councillor and astronomer.
3.
Gotthilf Hagen showed promise in mathematics in high school and he went on to study at the University of Konigsberg where his uncle, Karl Gottfried Hagen was professor of physics and chemistry.
4.
In 1816 Gotthilf Hagen began studying mathematics and astronomy with Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, but in 1818 he switched to study civil engineering as he was more attracted to applied than theoretical science.
5.
Gotthilf Hagen became known through his publications about various hydraulic constructions which he had visited during travels in Europe.
6.
In 1830 Gotthilf Hagen joined the supreme building authority in Berlin and became chief government building surveyor in 1831.
7.
Gotthilf Hagen was unusual in stressing the mathematical and theoretical aspects of hydraulic engineering.
8.
In 1839 Gotthilf Hagen undertook careful experiments in brass tubes that enabled him to discover the relationship between the pressure drop and the tube diameter under conditions of laminar flow of homogeneous viscous liquids.
9.
Gotthilf Hagen played a decisive role in planning the development of numerous German rivers and harbors.
10.
Gotthilf Hagen took leave from his post in the Ministry of Trade and became chair of the Commission for the port construction in the Jade Bight.
11.
In 1863 Gotthilf Hagen published his encyclopaedic manual on hydraulic engineering.
12.
In 1866 Gotthilf Hagen was promoted to chief director in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering and chair of the section of public works in the Ministry of Trade.
13.
Gotthilf Hagen held this post until his retirement in 1875.
14.
On 7 April 1842 Gotthilf Hagen was elected as a member of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin on the recommendation of Alexander von Humboldt.
15.
In 1843 Gotthilf Hagen received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bonn.
16.
In 1959 a pilot station ship, the "Gotthilf Hagen" was named after him.