My new books still haven't arrived, but I am keeping busy with the book that started it all - The Age of Wonder. Today I found out a surprising fact about a famous figure from the history of Munich. I have been living in Munich for 8 years now, and one of my favorite places is the English garden. The name makes it sound like a small, well laid out bit of greenery - or possibly even an allotment. The reality is one of the largest parks in Europe. It is bigger than central park and has an added bonus of 4 beer gardens.
Soon after arriving I found out that the gardens were designed by an American (called Count Rumford) in the English style - this is a more naturalistic style as opposed to the French style of more formal gardens (the French rarely get things right and this is a case in point).
8 years ago wikipedia was not as complete as it is now, and details on Count Rumford were sketchy. All I could learn was that he was American, a scientist, and also a military advisor.
Now I find that Count Rumford was actually Benjamin Thomson. This was surprising to me on quite a few layers
1. Thomson is reasonably well known in scientific circles due to his work on the theory of heat and for helping to establish the Royal Instution of Great Britain. I knew about him but didn't know that he was also a Count who designed gardens.
2. I thought that Thomson was English, but now find out he was American.
3. None of my German colleagues knew about this
It is well-worn observation that you learn something new every day, but it is rare to have an 8 year old question answered so unexpectedly and for it to be such a pleasurable answer
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