KARMARSCH, Karl

K. was a tailor's son and studied at the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna, where he was from 1819 to 1823 an assistant to George Altmutter, the founder of mechanical technology. In 1821 his first scientific monograph was published, but also a number of technical and literary works he wrote for various newspapers. After that, K. finished drawings for the Altmütter's Description of the collection of tools of the Polytechnic Institute (Beschreibung der Werkzeugsammlung des Polytechnischen Instituts) and a book he wrote himself entitled Introduction to Mechanical Science Technologies (Einleitung in die mechanischen Lehren der Technologie). Both works were published in Vienna in 1825. Application for teaching post at Theresian Knights' Academy and the Polytechnic Institute did not meet success, but subsequently his friend Altmütter in 1829 succeeded in employing him as a teacher of technology and chemistry at Polytechnic School in Hannover.
K. obtained his PhD. in philosophical sciences and in 1830 became a head teacher and a year later the director of »technological and if necessary also chemical subjects« at the Polytechnic School (later the Technical University) in Hanover. K. managed the school organization, curriculum and teaching aids, following the program of the Vienna school.
As Altmütter in Vienna, K. likewise put a collection of tools on display in Hanover. Under K’s leadership the Institute developed into a leading educational institution in Germany. The mechanical technology, which he also explained as a historical phenomenon, was through his extensive work developed in the scientific branch.
In addition to his activities as scientist, professor and organizer K. was also an important factor in economic life. In Hanover he founded the Polytechnic association, which he led between 1834 to 1875; he was a correspondent member and member of the jury at the Vienna World Exhibition in 1873 and generally recognized as an international expert. K. is credited for standardizing rates and weights, and especially with the introduction of metric system in Austria and Germany.