Danish physicist, born at Rudkjöbing, on the island of Langeland, on the 14th of August 1777. He was the son of an apothecary, and at an early age began his experiments. In 1799 he received the degree of Ph.D. at the University of Copenhagen, his thesis being Architectonics of Natural Metaphysics, a philosophical consideration of the laws of the natural world. While engaged as an apothecary in 1800, Örsted made some discoveries in galvanic electricity. In 1801 he travelled in Holland, Germany, and France, and on his return in 1803 lectured at Copenhagen on electricity and kindred sciences. In 1806 he was made professor of natural philosophy, and his lectures attracted much attention. His thoughts had long been directed towards the identity of electricity and magnetism. In 1812, while in Germany, he published a treatise tending to that conclusion, and at last, in 1819, he succeeded in proving the fact. This great discovery gave him a foremost place among the scientific men of his time, and foreign societies bestowed on him numerous marks of honor. His labors to popularize science among his countrymen resulted in the establishment of a polytechnic school at Copenhagen, of which he was director from 1829. He also founded the Magnetic Observatory of Copenhagen. In 1850 the fiftieth anniversary or his doctorate was celebrated with a national jubilee. He died at Copenhagen on the 9th of March 1851. His most important works were a Manual of Mechanical Physics (1809; 2nd ed., 1844); and The Soul in Nature (1806; English translation, 1852).
His brother, Anders Sandoe Örsted (1778–1860), was an eminent jurist, and in 1853 became prime minister of Denmark, but was driven from power in 1854 and impeached for violation of the constitution, but finally acquitted. He was the author of some philosophical works. See also “Are Men Growing Better?”
