Friedrich Dirksen

Friedrich Dirksen was a Prussian scientist. He was the adopted son of Dutch scientist in Prussian service Nicolaas Dirksen.

Early Life
Friedrich Dirksen's natural parents were very low-class peasants and died very early in his life. As a child beggar, he was one day adopted by Dutch scientist Nicolaas Dirksen who worked for the new Prussian Kingdom.

Nicolaas Dirksen named the nameless child Friedrich, after King Friedrich I of Prussia who he had a close friendship with and who supported his work.

Life
Nicolaas Dirksen taught Friedrich in mathematics and physics. Friedrich did not show particular talent but his adoptive father was strict and pushed his scientific knowledge.

At the age of 17, in 1722, Friedrich Dirksen started studying mathematics and physics at the University of Magdeburg in Prussia. He graduated in 1727, a year before his adoptive father's death and started working together with his adoptive father.

After Nicolaas Dirksen died, Friedrich Dirksen took over his laboratory and continued his works.

Friedrich Dirksen died in 1759 at the age of 54.

Trivia
Friedrich Dirksen never met his adoptive family like his uncle Lourens Dirksen.