ŠUBIC, Simon

Throughout his life Š. had to face poverty and poor health. He went to elementary school in Škofja Loka, the gymnasia in Celje and Ljubljana – from where he graduated in 1852.
He studied mathematics and physics at the Faculty of Arts in Vienna University. Afterwards, he worked as a teacher at the gymnasium in Buda and at the Realschule in Pest, where in 1860 his 700-page textbook Lehrbuch der Physik fuer Obergymnasien und Ober-Realschulen was published, containing chapters on chemistry, astronomy and meteorology.
In 1861 he started to teach in Vienna and in 1864 he moved to Graz, where he was mathematics and physics teacher at the Trade and Crafts Academy. After 1866 Š. became a private docent and in 1869 he was the associate professor for mechanics, thermodynamics and meteorology.
He was most active in research work between 1862-72, when he determinedly opposed A. von Ettingshausen’s popularly supported theory of ether. He published his essays, in particular on the subject of the mechanical theory of heat and Gay-Lussac's law, in the reports of the Academy of Sciences (Vienna). When they started to reject his essays due to his opposition to Ettingshausen’s theory, he published in the Slovenian language in the papers of the Yugoslav Academy of Science and Arts, Zagreb. In 1874 he refused the chair of physic at the University of Zagreb.
Published in 1875,Telegrafija was the first Slovenian book about electricity. He also published popular scientific articles on the topics of physics, meteorology, technology as well as contributions on social and philosophical aspects on the progress of civilisation.
His extensive book project titled Titansko napadanje Olimpa (Titans Attack on Olympus) and Skrivnostne prikazni na človeku ali strahovi in duhovi (Mysterious Apparitions on Man or Ghosts and Spirits) were never published.