general, something belonging to Copernicus. Hence,

Copernican System or Hypothesis, that system of the world, wherein the sun is supposed to rest in the centre, and the planets, with the earth, to move in ellipses round him. See Copernicus.

Copernicus (Nicolaus), an eminent astronomer, was born at Thorn in Prussia, in the year 1472. He was taught the Latin and Greek languages at home; and afterwards sent to Cracovia, where he studied philosophy and physic. His genius in the mean time was naturally turned to mathematics, which he pursued through all its various branches. He set out for Italy when he was 23 years of age; but staid at Bologna some time, for the sake of being with the celebrated astronomer of that place, Dominicus Maria; whose conversation, however, and company, he affected, not so much as a learner, as an assistant to him in making his observations. From thence he passed to Rome, where he was no sooner arrived than he was considered as not inferior to the famous Regiomontanus; and acquired in short so great a reputation, that he was chosen professor of mathematics, which he taught for a long time with great applause. He also made some astronomical observations there about the year 1500. Returning to his own country some years after, he began to apply his vast knowledge in mathematics to correct the system of astronomy which then prevailed. He set himself to collect all the books which had been written by philosophers and astronomers, and to examine all the various hypotheses they had invented for the solution of the celestial phenomena; to try if a more symmetrical order and constitution of the parts of the world could not be discovered, and a more just and exquisite harmony in its motions established, than what the astronomers of those times so easily admitted. But of all their hypotheses none pleased him so well as the Pythagorean, which made the sun to be the centre of the system, and supposed the earth to move not only round the sun, but round its own axis also. He thought he discerned much beautiful order and proportion in this; and that all that embarrassment and perplexity from epicycles and eccentricities, which attended the Ptolemaic hypothesis, would here be entirely removed.

This system, then, he began to consider, and to write upon, when he was about 35 years of age. He employed himself in contemplating the phenomena carefully; in making mathematical calculations; in examining the observations of the ancients, and in making new ones of his own; and after more than 20 years chiefly spent in this manner, he brought his scheme to perfection, and established that system of the world which goes by his name, and is now universally received, (see Astronomy, p. 74.) His system, however, was then looked upon as a most dangerous heresy; for which he was thrown into prison by Pope Urban VIII., and not suffered to come out till he had recanted his opinion; that is, till he had renounced the testimony of his senses. He died the 24th of May 1543, in the 70th year of his age.

This extraordinary man had been made canon of Worms by his mother's brother, Lucas Watzelrodus, who was bishop of that place. He was not only the greatest of astronomers, but a perfect master of the Greek and Latin tongues; to all which he joined the greatest greatest piety and innocence of manners.