GRUBER, Gabriel

He was born into a wealthy family in Vienna and joined the Jesuits when he was 15 years old, as he wanted to go to China to be a missionary. However, the path led him to Ljubljana, where he lived and worked from 1769 to 1784. He founded and managed the first Craft school in Slovenia, teaching engineering, geometry, mechanics and hydraulics at the Lyceum. He was the initiator for the establishment of Provincial Society of Carniola, the director of inland navigation in Carniola (1772-1781) and he also built a large palace in Ljubljana which has housed the Slovenian archives since than. His most important work is a flood relief channel on the Ljubljanica river for drainage of the Ljubljana Marshes. G. made precise geodetic measurements and he proposed conversion of part of the river through the relief channel along the main channel through Ljubljana. After reviewing his plans intensive works began in 1771 and lasted until 1780 and for the first years he himself was a design consultant. As the costs had already by 1777 exceeded the planned costs for one hundred per cent, while the excavation had not bee finalized, G. had to defend himself in Vienna. By the end of the year he was deposed and completion of the project was entrusted to the lieutenant colonel and engineer Vincenc Struppi.
Works were finally completed and water was released in the water channel on 25th November 1780, while the finishing works were completed in 1782. Shortly after the completion of the Cesarski graben watercourse or what is today known as the Gruber Canal, his hopes were confirmed: the groundwater level was lowered to 70 cm, large areas became dry and suitable for processing. Despite intensive activities and contacts with the Slovenian intelligence, G. was increasingly under attack in Ljubljana, especially after the dissolvement of the Jesuit order in 1773. From 1773 to 1776 he led the reconstruction of a burnt grammar school. In 1781 he tried to reject reproaches against him with a clear indication of hydro-technical situation in Slovenia. By 1784 his situation worsened so he decided to leave Slovenia after 16 years.
After a short stay in Vienna he left for Russia in 1786 and in 1800 became the rector of the Aristocratic College at the Saint Petersburg State University and in 1802 General of the Society of Jesus in Russia. Despite his duties as a general, he remained active in scientific field. At college of Polatsk he taught mechanics, physics and architecture, he promoted the establishment of educational institutions, invented many devices and planned palaces and forts.