MOČNIK, Franc
* 1. 10. 1814, Cerkno, Slovenia
† 30. 11. 1882, Graz, Austria
mathematician
After attending the gymnasium and lyceum in Ljubljana, M. studied theology in the Italian town of Gorizia from 1836 onwards. After that, he taught at the local gymnasium. The meeting with the famous French mathematician Augustin Louis Baron Cauchy motivated him to continue the study of philosophy at the University of Graz. As early as 1839, he published his theory of numerical equations with a single unknown in Vienna, and in 1840 became a doctor of philosophy.
From 1846 onwards, M. taught at the Technical University of Lwow as a mathematics professor, and from 1849 onwards, at the University of Olomouc. In 1851, he became employed in the school administration, and was a school clerk and an adviser to the Carniolan Provincial Government between 1851 and 1860, and from 1860 to 1871 a school inspector for Styria and Carniola.
M. mostly dealt with the renovation and modernisation of lessons in mathematics. In addition, he issued some 70 textbooks and logarithm tables from 1840 onwards. Counting the numerous reprints, adaptations, and translations, together around 1,200 different editions of his notes are known.
