Editing Georg Ohm (section)

==Biography==

===Early life===
Georg Simon Ohm was born into a [[Protestant]] family in [[Erlangen]], [[Brandenburg-Bayreuth]] (then part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]), son to locksmith Johann Wolfgang Ohm, and Maria Elizabeth Beck, daughter of a tailor in Erlangen. Although his parents had not been formally educated, Ohm's father was a respected man who had educated himself to a high level and was able to give his sons an excellent education through his own teachings.<ref>Keithley, Joseph F. (1999). ''The Story of Electrical and Magnetic Measurements: From 500 BC to the 1940s''. John Wiley & Sons</ref> Of the seven children of the family only three survived to adulthood: Georg Simon, his younger brother [[Martin Ohm|Martin]], who later became a well-known mathematician, and his sister Elizabeth Barbara. His mother died when he was ten.

From early childhood, Georg and Martin were taught by their father who brought them to a high standard in [[mathematics]], [[physics]], [[chemistry]] and [[philosophy]]. Georg Simon attended Erlangen Gymnasium from age eleven to fifteen where he received little in the area of scientific training, which sharply contrasted with the inspired instruction that both Georg and Martin received from their father. This characteristic made the Ohms bear a resemblance to the [[Bernoulli family]], as noted by [[Karl Christian von Langsdorf]], a professor at the [[Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg|University of Erlangen]].

===Life in university===
Georg Ohm's father, concerned that his son was wasting his educational opportunity, sent Ohm to Switzerland. There, in September 1806, Ohm accepted a position as a mathematics teacher in a school in Gottstadt bei Nidau.

[[Karl Christian von Langsdorf]] left the University of Erlangen in early 1809 to take up a post in the [[Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg|University of Heidelberg]]. Ohm wanted to  restart his mathematical studies with Langsdorf in [[Heidelberg]]. Langsdorf, however, advised Ohm to pursue mathematical studies on his own, and suggested that Ohm read works of [[Leonhard Euler|Euler]], [[Pierre-Simon Laplace|Laplace]] and [[Sylvestre François Lacroix|Lacroix]]. Rather reluctantly Ohm took his advice but he left his teaching post in [[Gottstatt Monastery]] in March 1809 to become a private tutor in [[Neuchâtel]]. For two years he carried out his duties as a tutor while he followed Langsdorf's advice and continued his private study of mathematics. Then in April 1811 he returned to the University of Erlangen.

===Teaching career===
Ohm's own studies prepared him for his [[doctorate]] which he received from the University of Erlangen on October 25, 1811. He immediately joined the faculty there as a lecturer in mathematics but left after three semesters because of unpromising prospects. He could not survive on his salary as a lecturer. The [[Bavaria]]n government offered him a post as a teacher of mathematics and physics at a poor quality school in [[Bamberg]] which Ohm accepted in January 1813. Unhappy with his job, Georg began writing an elementary textbook on [[geometry]] as a way to prove his abilities. That school was closed in February 1816. The Bavarian government then sent Ohm to an overcrowded school in Bamberg to help out with the teaching of mathematics.
[[File:Denkmal Ohm TU München.jpg|thumb|Memorial for Ohm (by [[Wilhelm von Rümann]]) at the [[Technical University of Munich]], Campus Theresienstrasse]]

After his assignment in Bamberg, Ohm sent his completed manuscript to [[Frederick William III of Prussia|King Wilhelm III of Prussia]]. The King was satisfied with Ohm's book, and offered Ohm a position at the [[Dreikönigsgymnasium|Jesuit Gymnasium]] of [[Cologne]] on 11 September 1817. This school had a reputation for good science education and Ohm was required to teach physics in addition to mathematics. The physics laboratory was well equipped, allowing Ohm to begin experiments in physics. As the son of a locksmith, Ohm had some practical experience with mechanical devices.

Ohm published {{lang|de|Die galvanische Kette, mathematisch bearbeitet}} (''The Galvanic Circuit Investigated Mathematically'') in 1827. Ohm's college did not appreciate his work and Ohm resigned from his position. He then made an application to, and was employed by, the [[Technische Hochschule Nürnberg|Polytechnic School of Nuremberg]]. Ohm arrived at the Polytechnic School of Nuremberg in 1833, and in 1852 he became a professor of experimental physics at the [[University of Munich]].<ref name=EB1911/>{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=34}}

In 1849, Ohm published {{Lang|de|Beiträge zur Molecular-Physik}} (''Molecular Physics''). In the preface of this work he stated he hoped to write a second and third volume "and if God gives me length of days for it, a fourth". However, on finding that an original discovery recorded in it was being anticipated by a Swedish scientist he did not publish it, stating: "The episode has given a fresh and deep sense for my mind to the saying 'Man proposes, and God disposes'. The project that gave the first impetus to my inquiry has been dissipated into mist, and a new one, undesigned by me, has been accomplished in its place."<ref>Kneller, Karl Alois; Kettle, Thomas Michael (1911). ''[https://archive.org/details/christianitylead00kneluoft Christianity and the leaders of modern science; a contribution to the history of culture in the nineteenth century]''.  Freiburg im Breisgau, pp. 17–18</ref>

Ohm died in Munich in 1854,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=34}} and is buried in the [[Alter Südfriedhof]]. A collection of his family letters would be compiled in a German book, which shows that he used to sign some of his letters with the expression ''"Gott befohlen, G S Ohm,"''<ref>Georg Simon Ohm (2002), ''Georg Simon Ohm: nachgelassene Schriften und Dokumente aus seinem Leben : mit Schriftstücken seiner Vorfahren und Briefen seines Bruders Martin''. Palm und Enke. p. 216; 219</ref> meaning "Commended to God".<ref>{{cite book |first=Leopold |last=von Ranke |year=1966 |title=History of the Reformation in Germany, Volume 2 |publisher=F. Unger Publishing Company |page=467 |translator-first=Sarah |translator-last=Austin |oclc=386451}}</ref>