Page - 34 - in Maximilian Hell (1720–92) - And the Ends of Jesuit Science in Enlightenment Europe

Introduction34 contributed to the shaping of the central figure’s public persona in both of the other two cases. Still, as much as possible, a similar endeavor has guided us in writing this book. The present venture is thus also conceived as both less and more than a bi- ography. Let us now provide a brief sketch of our protagonist’s life—more de- tails will naturally follow in the ensuing chapters—and then assess its possible broader implications that we hope to highlight. Maximilian Hell was one of the foremost Jesuit scholars in eighteenth-century Central Europe. He was the scion of a family of German mining engineers of Bohemian or Bavarian de- scent, born in Štiavnické Bane113 (Szélakna, Windschacht), a suburb of Banská Štiavnica (Selmecbánya, Schemic[z]ium, Schemnitz), a prosperous chartered town in northern Hungary (now Slovakia). Having graduated from the gymna- sium at nearby Banská Bystrica (Besztercebánya, Neosolium, Neusohl), he joined the Society of Jesus in 1738 and was ordained in 1751. Between these dates, he spent his novitiate at Trenčín (Trencsén, Trenchinium, Trentschin) and studied philosophy, mathematics, and theology at the University of Vien- na. Simultaneously, from 1745, while teaching at a gymnasium and college in Levoča (Lőcse, Leuchovia, Leutschau) and later in Cluj (Kolozsvár, Claudiopo- lis, Klausenburg) in Transylvania, he participated in the planning or personally directed the construction and equipping of several observatories in the coun- try. Having come to the attention of leading Viennese officials during his stu- dent years and attaining some reputation as a scholar, in 1755 Hell was appoint- ed by Empress and Queen Maria Theresa (1717–80, r.1740–80) as imperial and royal astronomer in Vienna. His appointment coincided with the first impor- tant wave of systematic attempts at enlightened reform in administration, taxation, education, health, and other spheres initiated by the Habsburg gov- ernment. In his new capacity, Hell supervised the building of a new university observatory tower and edited the annual Ephemerides astronomicae ad meridi- anum Vindobonensem (Astronomical ephemeris for the Viennese meridian), 113 Geographic names in the territory of the old Kingdom of Hungary and the Habsburg monarchy in general are given as they are currently used in the state where they belong today, regardless of ethnic composition, suzerainty, or any other factor in the eighteenth century (for no other reason than the convenience of the reader in finding them on the map). Historic alternatives are provided on first appearance. The Latin name forms are given as used in Hell’s own texts, or in [Michael Bonbardius and Nicolaus Csáky de Keresztszeghy], Topographia Magni Regni Hungariae olim a quodam Societatis Jesu Sacer- dote conscripta, nunc Studio cujusdam ex eadem Societate Sacerdotis emendata et aucta (Vienna: Joannes Kaliwoda, 1750). See also our list accompanying the map of the Austrian province of the Society of Jesus in appendix 2.