Otto Von, a highly distinguished experimental philosopher, was born at Magdeburg in 1602; died at Hamburg in 1686. It is to him that we owe the first construction of the air-pump, afterwards improved by Boyle. (See Pneumatics.) He was also the first to prove the force of the pressure of the atmosphere, by applying to each other two hemispheres of brass, from which he exhausted the air, and which sixteen horses were unable to pull asunder. These experiments are all detailed under Pneumatics. Guericke's observations on these subjects, and also on astronomy, which he had studied with care and success, were published under the title of Experimenta Nova, ut vocat. Magdeburgica, &c., Amsterdam, 1672.

Guericke's personal character seems to have been a highly amiable one. He was held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, who elected him burgomaster. He was also honoured with the title of Counsellor to the Elector of Brandenburg.