Antoine Spring
Physician Antoine Spring (father of chemist Walthère Spring) served as rector from 1861 to 1864, then in 1866-1867 to complete Kupfferschlaeger's term. The universities were in the doldrums at the time, discouraged by the incessant reshuffling of examination boards and course syllabuses, and the weakening of the little authority they enjoyed in all matters concerning higher education.
Born in Upper Bavaria in 1814, Joseph Antoine Spring was as gifted for the sciences as he was for music. He opted to study medicine at Munich University, where he followed the teachings of such famous masters as the philosopher Schelling, the botanist von Martius and the physiologist Döllinger.
While on a scientific visit to Paris, he was informed of his appointment as Professor of Human Physiology and General Anatomy at the University of Liège (1839). Following the death of Ferdinand Vottem, Spring was put in charge of almost all courses for the medical candidacy, and while holding a chair in clinical medicine, he played an active part in the work of the commissions responsible for reforming examination boards, presided over the Conseil de Salubrité Publique de la Province de Liège and the Association Générale des Médecins de la Province, and became a member of various academies and learned societies. His numerous publications cover the fields of medicine - symptomatology, cardiology, anatomy - botany - monograph on the Lycopodiaceae and Selaginellaceae families - and paleontology - Chauvau cave (Yvoir).
Appointed rector between 1861 and 1864, two years later he was called upon to complete the term of office of the late Kupfferschlaeger as pro-rector. His speeches at the start of the academic year, devoted in particular to freedom of education, science and the liberal professions, and the scientific spirit that should reign in universities, bear witness to the quality of his thinking on the fundamental role of the institution, to which he would remain unwaveringly attached until the end of his life (1872). Antoine Spring was the father of the famous chemist Walthère Spring, who also taught at the Université de Liège.
Favoriser l’esprit scientifique dans l’Université, c’est, d’abord, développer et transmettre les bonnes méthodes d’observation et d’expérimentation ; c’est, ensuite, donner partout aux études philosophiques et mathématiques la place qu’elles doivent avoir ; c’est, enfin, tenir compte du développement historique des connaissances et ne pas dédaigner le trésor littéraire qu’avant nous les siècle ont amassé.
Rector Lacordaire's speeches at the reopening of classes
Go to : Antoine-Henri-Joseph Kupfferschlaeger
Illustration : Charles Soubre, À Mr. Antoine Spring, lithographie, 1857, Musée Wittert ULiège, inv. 2948
