Johan Herman Wessel (Q2762087)

The paper deals with the Norwegian writer Johan Herman Wessel, a brother of the famous topographer and mathematician Caspar Wessel. J. H. Wessel began studying physics, arithmetics, geography, metaphysics, history, logic and Latin, but he quits after two lower grade exams. The author, a specialist from the Medical department of Sykehuset in Askim (Norway), asks why the brilliant poet J. H. Wessel produced so little. For him, the reason is a manic depression of Wessel. There are some interesting remarks about the history, the scientific life and the political circumstances in the Danish-Norwegian twin monarchy of the 18th century. The paper is far from mathematics.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0970.00008].