Christian Doppler

Profession: Physicist

Biography: Christian Doppler is best known for discovering the Doppler effect. This principle describes how the frequency of waves changes when the source and observer are in relative motion.

Doppler was born into a family of stonemasons in Salzburg, Austria. Due to his poor health, he pursued academics instead of the family trade. His mathematical talent was noticed by Simon Stampfer, leading to his studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna.

In 1835, Doppler considered moving to the United States but stayed in Europe after receiving a teaching offer in Prague. He married Mathilde Sturm in 1836 and had five children. In 1842, Doppler presented his most famous work on what would become known as the Doppler effect.

Doppler published his findings in a paper titled "On the coloured light of the binary stars and some other stars of the heavens" (1842). His work was interrupted by the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, however, which forced him to move to Vienna. There he taught at the University of Vienna and influenced Gregor Mendel, who later became known for his work in genetics.

Doppler died in 1853 at the age of 49 from a lung disease while in Venice. His tomb is located in the San Michele cemetery on a Venetian island.

Born: November 29, 1803
Birthplace: Salzburg, Austria
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: March 17, 1853 (aged 49)
Cause of Death: Pulmonary disease