Nicolaus Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus was born on February 19, 1473 in Torun, now Poland. His father was Niklas Koppernigk, a merchant and baker from Cracow who moved to Torun not later than 1458. Nicolauss father died in 1483, and his Uncle Lucas Watzenrode (1447-1512) assumed responsibility for him. Copernicus was sent off to the University of Cracow in 1491 to study mathematics and optics; also at Bologna, he studied canon law. He moved to the University of Padua, to study medicine, and later he took a doctorate for canon law at the University of Ferrara. Returning from his studies in Italy, through the influence of his uncle was appointed a canon in the Cathedral of Frauenburg where he spent the rest of his days. Only because of his clerical position, he was appointed to the highest of powers. One of many hobbies he enjoyed was to paint and translate Greek poetry in to Latin. His interest in astronomy gradually grew to his only one. He investigated the universe quietly and alone. He made his observations from a pedestal situated safely behind the cathedral walls. He made all of his observations with only the naked eye, because the telescope was not to be invented for another one hundred years or so. In 1530 Copernicus finished his first work called De Revolutionibus which stated his theory that the earth rotated on its axis once daily and traveled around the sun once yearly. Up to his time people in the world believed the Ptolemiac theory. Ptolemy's theory was that of a geocentric universe. Where the earth is the center of the universe and is a fixed, immovable mass, and the sun and stars revolve around it. His theory appealed more to human nature. Before publishing his work, Copernicus circulated his work throughout many other astronomers. His work might not have been published if not for a German mathematics professor whom had convinced Copernicus to do so. He was still reluctant to publish, not so much because he feared more of what the church might think, but he was a perfectionist. He believed his work was never finished, and his calculations need checked and re-checked. Some people believe that Nicolaus only received a copy of his published theories when he was in his death bed. Copernicus died in 1543 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He would never know what a stir his theories caused. Even though the church would not accept them, still many other people including other famous astronomers based their work on his theories. Two Italian astronomers embraced the Copernican theory, and suffered personal injury at the hands of the church. They change how man viewed himself as compared to the rest of the universe.