Born: 8 July 1777 in Sosa (near Eibenstock), Saxony (now Germany)
Died: 13 March 1833 in Freiberg, Saxony (now Germany)

Little is known of Hecht before the age of 26 when he enrolled at the Bergakademie at Freiberg, Saxony. However we do know that Hecht was born in Sosa, near Eibenstock, in the Erzgebirge range of hills which run along the German-Czech border. The name Erzgebirge means Ore Mountains and this reflects the tradition of mineral wealth, worked by generations of small groups of craftsmen. In this area gold and silver, lead and copper, tungsten and pitchblende were mined for generations. It is no surprise to learn then, that Hecht was influenced by the mining tradition of the area and it is reasonable to assume that before he entered the Bergakademie at Freiberg, Hecht had worked in the mining industry in some capacity. Freiberg is situated at the northeastern foot of the Erzgebirge, southwest of Dresden, and was a centre for the support infrastructure of the mining industry. Hecht entered the academy with the idea that he would study the topics which were necessary to make him a mining expert. After his studies Hecht took up the position of a mine manager, then he became a teacher at the Freiberger Berschule.

Hecht was appointed second professor of mathematics at the Freiberg Bergakademie in 1816. At first he taught elementary pure and applied mathematics, a course which had been previously given by the first professor at the Freiberg Bergakademie F G von Busse, but later Hecht taught only mechanics and mining machinery. When von Busse retired in 1826 it was a natural promotion for Hecht to assume the first mathematics chair at the Freiberg Bergakademie and this was indeed the position.

Koch writes in [1] of Hecht's role at the Freiberg Bergakademie:-

Hecht was not a leading figure at the Freiberg Bergakademie, but through his great industry and his strict conscientiousness in carrying out his duties he was of great help to his students. His lectures were designed less for the gifted students than for those who needed extra assistance and an external stimulus in their studies. For this and for his friendly sincere manner Hecht won many friends.

1. M Koch, Biography in Dictionary of Scientific Biography (New York 1970-1990). 
   http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2830901908.html

Articles:

1. C Schiffner, Daniel Friedrich Hecht, Aus dem Leben alter Freiberger Bergstudenten I (Freiberg, 1935), 244-245.

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