Karl von Birago ( German: Karl von Birago ) - Austrian military engineer, mathematician , teacher, inventor of the pontoon crossing system named after him, Baron.
| Karl Freicherr von Birago | |
|---|---|
| Karl Freiherr von Birago | |
 | |
| Date of Birth | April 24, 1792 |
| Place of Birth | Cachina d'Olmo , Duchy of Milan |
| Date of death | December 29, 1845 (53 years old) |
| Place of death | Vienna , Austrian Empire |
| Nationality |  Austrian Empire |
| Occupation | engineer , teacher |
Content
Biography
Carl Birago was born on April 24, 1792 in Cascina d'Olmo near Milan [1] .
At first he studied mathematics at Pavia University , then in 1812 he entered the Pavia military school, and in 1813 he was promoted to second lieutenant and appointed teacher at the same school [2] .
In 1816, Birago was seconded to the Military Geographic Institute in Milan, where he was engaged in filming and reconnaissance in Lombardy and the Parma district. Later he was appointed to the post of teacher of mathematics at the Pioneer Corps School in Milan [2] .
In 1825, Carl Birago published his work “System of bridges and pontoons”, in which he came up with the system of pontoon bridges he invented for military purposes, which was almost immediately adopted [3] . Later, he participated in the construction of Linz fortifications, for which he developed a very expedient method of installing howitzers in towers [2] .
In 1835, von Birago directed the strengthening of the crossing of the Po River near the city of Bresello .
In 1839, Carl Birago built a military bridge near Bresello over the Po for the Duke of Modena , and was guided by the theories that he set out in his essay. The bridge exceeded all expectations and in 1840 he was entrusted with the manufacture of a large convoy of pontoon bridges according to his system, and maneuvering was given to him under his authority. The success of the enterprise was so great that officers from many European armies arrived in the Austrian capital to familiarize themselves with the invention of Birago, who was entrusted with the command of the pioneer and pontoon corps. The pontoon system he developed over time was taken as the basis by almost all large European armies, including the Russian Imperial Army . Over time, wooden pontoons were replaced by metal ones, however, the principle of Birago for a long time remained easily recognizable in them [2] .
The engineer himself, by the highest decree, was elevated to noble dignity; he was granted the title of baron [2] .
Carl von Birago died on December 29, 1845 and was buried with honors in the cemetery of St. Mark [1] .
See also
- Birago-Kaserne (German)
Bibliography
- " Anleitung zur Ausführung der im Felde am meisten vorkomenden Pionierarbeiten " (1836)
- Untersuchungen über die europ. Militärbrückentrains usw ”( Vienna , 1839).
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Karl Freiherr von Birago (1792-1845) (inaccessible link) (German)
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Birago, Karl // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- ↑ Birago // Encyclopedia of Military and Marine Sciences / comp. under ch. ed. Lieutenant General G. A. Leer, Honored Professor Nikolaev Acad. General Staff. - St. Petersburg: Type. V. Bezobrazova and Co. °, 1883. - T. 1. - P. 429.
Literature
- Birago, Karl // Military Encyclopedia : [in 18 vol.] / Ed. V.F. Novitsky [et al.]. - SPb. ; [ M. ]: Type. t-va I. D. Sytin , 1911-1915.