The Role of Lajos Martin in Hungarian Academic Education in Cluj

Abstract

Lajos Martin (1827–1897) was a mathematician, engineer, corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1861), founding member of the Transylvanian Museum Society, first appointed professor at the Hungarian University of Cluj founded in 1872, one of the Hungarian pioneers of aviation, and also warden of the Evangelical church. In 2022 was commemorated the 125th anniversary of his death and also the 150th anniversary of the founding of the University of Cluj, of which he was professor, from the foundation until his death. He was also the rector of the institution in academic year 1895/96. His legacy (the floating wheel, his collection of papers containing his research and the Martin folder) was bequeathed by his children to the Transylvanian Museum Society, the institution where he gave many lectures and published the results of his research. The present study aims to present in more detail not only the part of his life revealed by his commemorative research, but also that part of his life which highlights his role in Hungarian education in Cluj, as educator and institution leader, marked by his faith in science.