Johan Bredman
1770-1859.
Astronomer.
Johan Bredman, born in Oviken in Jämtland, became an associate professor of mathematics in 1801 and in 1802 an assistant professor at the observatory.
At that time, the observatory was in such a state that practical work could not be carried out satisfactorily. All the instruments were from Celsius' time and by the end of the 18th century the observatory was considered to be condemned. Bredman was a professor of astronomy from 1811 to 1841 and also a textbook author.
He is mentioned in Wennerberg's Glunterne regarding "another planet whose name not even Bredman knows" (Gluntarne no.3 Uppsala är bäst). Contemporaries said that Bredman was a skilled lecturer and interested teacher.
Johan Bredman was Norrland's first inspector and benefactor, and was honored with the nation's largest tombstone. He bequeathed money to the observatory and to scholarships for Norrlanders and other charitable causes.
Burial site: 0119-0995
Image description: Johan Bredman, oil painting from 1841 by Carl Staaff. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
Click here for an uncropped image
