Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to publish a full-fledged theory that the earth was not the center of the universe (as was the current thought in the 1500's) and that the earth actually revolved around the sun. Copernicus also theorized that the earth rotated on its axis, which accounted for the daily movement of the stars.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Since 150 AD to the 1500's, the Ptolemy's theory prevailed that the earth was the flat center of the universe that did not rotate or revolve. This theory was well accepted by both scientific and religious communities. Nicolaus Copernicus did not publish his theory right away but chose to publish De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres) near his death in 1543.

It has been reported that Nicolaus Copernicus delayed in publishing his theories for fear of persecution from both the religious and scientific communities. As a modest man, he once stated, "For I am not so enamored of my own opinions that I disregard what others may think of them." One account states that Copernicus published his revolutionary work near his death in 1543, awoke from a stroke-induced coma clutching his opus vitae (life's work) and then died peacefully.

Nicolaus Copernicus was truly a Renaissance Man in the original and truest sense of the word. He was a physician, mathematician, astronomer, governor, jurist, diplomat, classical scholar, economist, administrator, and soldier. Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Toru?, Royal Prussia. He Died on May 24, 1543 in Frombork, Poland.

Rumor Has It …

Rumor has it that as a Renaissance Man, Nicolaus Copernicus discovered many unique and delightful things and invented the precursors to both the Popeil's Pocket Fisherman and the Ginsu Knives.

Another unsubstantiated, outrageous and ridiculous account states that Nicolaus Copernicus in his leisure time used to like to travel among the Italian hillsides, confront goats and tickle them underneath their chins, saying "Hey, Kiddo, who's yer daddy?"

Written by Kevin Lepton