Nicolas Steno (Danish: Niels Stensen; latinized to Nicolaus Stenonis, Italian Niccolo' Stenone) (11 January 1638 - 25 November 1686) was a Danish pioneer in both anatomy and geology. Already in 1659 he decided not to accept anything simply written in a book, instead resolving to do research himself. He is considered the father of geology and stratigraphy.
Steno was born in Copenhagen on New Year's Day (Julian calendar), as a son of a Lutheran gol...
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Nicolas Steno (Danish: Niels Stensen; latinized to Nicolaus Stenonis, Italian Niccolo' Stenone) (11 January 1638 - 25 November 1686) was a Danish pioneer in both anatomy and geology. Already in 1659 he decided not to accept anything simply written in a book, instead resolving to do research himself. He is considered the father of geology and stratigraphy.
Steno was born in Copenhagen on New Year's Day (Julian calendar), as a son of a Lutheran goldsmith, regularly working for the king, Christian IV of Denmark. Stensen grew up in isolation in his childhood, because of an unknown disease. In 1644 his father died, his mother remarried to another goldsmith. In 1654-1655, 240 pupils of his school died because of the plague. Across the street lived Peder Schumacher, (who would offer Steno a post as professor in Copenhagen in 1671). After completing his university education, he set out to travel through Europe; in fact, he would be on the move for the rest of his life. In the Netherlands,...
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