Wilhelm Josef Grailich


Wilhelm Joseph Grailich was an Austrian physicist, mineralogist and crystallographer.

Education

From 1847, Grailich studied sciences at the polytechnic institute in Vienna.

Career

Grailich served as an assistant to Andreas von Ettingshausen in the institute of physics at the University of Vienna. In 1856 he became an assistant at the Hofmineraliencabinett, where soon afterwards, he succeeded Gustav Adolf Kenngott as "kustos-adjunkt". In 1857 he became an associate professor of higher physics at the university, and in 1859, was chosen as a member of the Vienna Academy of Sciences. In 1910, a thoroughfare in the Landstrasse district of Vienna was named Grailichgasse in his honor.
Known for his work in crystal optics and crystal physics, he was the author of numerous scientific papers in the field of crystallography. In 1856, he translated William Hallowes Miller's textbook of crystallography into German as "Lehrbuch der Kristallographie". He explained the phenomenon of fluorescence in crystals, and is credited for making improvements to Wheatstone's vibration apparatus.

Personal life

His full name was Andreas Wilhelm Joseph Grailich, he was son of Friedrich Joseph Grailich and Carolina Neidherr.
On September 30, 1859, Grailich died in Vienna, Grailich was 30 years old.
His wife was Carolina Augusta von Ettingshausen, daughter of Andreas von Ettingshausen. His daughter was Auguste Grailich, mother of Rudolf Allers.

Selected works