Who were Nicolaus Copernicus's wife and children?


Quick Answer

Nicolaus Copernicus never married and did not have any children, although he did have a relationship with Anna Schilling, his housekeeper. Nicolaus did, however, take care of his five nephews and nieces after his sister died.

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Full Answer

Nicolaus Copernicus was an astronomer, mathematician and scientist who lived from 1473 to 1543. He was the man who found and established the idea of a heliocentric solar system, or a solar system that revolved around the sun instead of the Earth. It was in 1508 that he developed the celestial model that he called the heliocentric planetary system. In 1514, he would share his findings with the world in the book"Commentariolus." His second book, "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," was banned shortly after his death in 1543 by the Roman Catholic Church.

Nicolaus was born the youngest child of four to Nicolaus Copernicus Senior and Barbara Watzenrode. They grew up in Torun, Poland. Nicolaus lost his father at the age of 10 and it was his uncle, Lucas Watzenrode (Bishop of Varmia), who stepped in to act as a paternal figure for the family. He was also the person who insisted and ensured that Nicolaus get a world-class education. It was also one of the reasons that Nicolaus remained devoted to his family throughout his life.

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