Jean texereau biography
- For more than half a century Texereau made, refigured, or tested optics for large observatory telescopes.
- Jean Texereau was a distinguished French self-taught telescope mirror and instrument maker who worked for many years as an engineer in the Optical Laboratory.
- Jean Texereau.
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Texereau History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
- France
Etymology of Texereau
What does the name Texereau mean?
The Périgord region of France is the ancient homeland of this noble name.
Early Origins of the Texereau family
The surname Texereau was first found in Périgord, where this eminent family held a family seat since ancient times.
Many of the branches had their noble status maintained in 1599, 1634, 1667, 1668, 1715 and so on. In recognition of their valiant conduct at war, many members of this noble family received lands and titles and were prominent citizens. This family had many members who were admitted to the Order of the Knights of Malta and to the Knights of Saint Cyr in 1706, 1751, 1768, and on August 7, 1773, Jeanne from the Redon branch of the family was admitted. Many distinctive members of the Tessieres family participated in the Assembly of Notables in 1789.
Urbain Tessier, born in 1624, son of Artus and Jeanne, travelled from France to Canada in the 17th century. After settling in the Canadian province of Quebec he marri
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Texereau, Jean
Abstract
Jean Texereau was a distinguished French self-taught telescope mirror and instrument maker who worked for many years as an engineer in the Optical Laboratory of Paris Observatory, first as assistant to André Couder and then, after Couder’s retirement, as director. Texereau was involved in the polishing and/or surface refiguring of many astronomical mirrors, either in France or the USA. In parallel, he made a strong effort to encourage both mirror and telescope making among amateur astronomers, writing a memorable and very well-known book, How to Make a Telescope, originally in French but which was then translated into English and Spanish.
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Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Centro de Astronomía (CITEVA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
Christian H. R. Nitschelm
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Christian H. R. Nitschelm .
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
Philip David Nicholson
New Canton, VA, USA
J
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As often in sciences and technology, Leonardo da Vinci was a pioneer, creating machines for the production of optical devices. Indeed, between 1513 and 1517, he imagined machines to grind and polish telescope mirrors, which, at the time, were made of bronze. Unfortunately, it seems that, during his life, Leonardo da Vinci didn’t actually build his invention, as he often did with other inventions.
Model of the machine imagined by Leonardo da Vinci to grind mirrors Model of the machine imagined by Leonardo da Vinci to polish mirrors
In the early 17th century, progress in the theory of optics and mastery in the production of quality glass led to the development, especially in Italy, of craftsmen specialized in the making of lenses for medical glasses, microscopes, field glasses, refractors… At the time, specific tools were invented to facilitate the work of opticians, in particular machines whose principles were developed by Descartes, Huygens, Hooke, Helvelius, Cherubin d’Orleans and others.
Drawing by Huygens representing his le Copyright ©tiedame.pages.dev 2025