Boscovich, Ruggero Giuseppe (1711–1787)

Croatian-born Italian mathematician and astronomer. An early supporter of Newton, he developed a theory, popular in the 19th century, of the atom as a single point with surrounding fields of repulsive and attractive forces.

Born in Dubrovnik, Croatia, he entered the Society of Jesus and in 1740 was appointed professor of mathematics at the Collegium Romanum. He travelled round Europe 1759–63, and on his return was appointed professor first at Pavia and then at Milan. When the pope suppressed the Jesuit order 1773, Boscovich went to Paris where he was appointed director of optics to the French navy, but returned to Italy 1782. His work was mainly concerned with the invention, improvement, and best use of instruments for astronomy, geodesy, and optics. In his book De Maculis Solaribus 1736 is to be found the earliest geometrical solution for determining the equator of the Sun or a planet from three observations of its spots.