Peter Ritter von Tunner
Reformer of the iron smelting industry
| Peter Ritter von Tunner’s services to the mining industry in Styria were outstanding. His researches made a crucial contribution to the high standards of quality for which the Mining University of Leoben is world-famous today.
1809 Peter Ritter von Tunner is born in Deutschfeistritz in Styria.
1819-1935 After completing his studies in the mid-1820s, the young man becomes the head of the hammer mill in Katsch near Murau.
1835 Peter Ritter von Tunner is made a professor at the suggestion of Archduke Johann.
1835-1840 Tunner frequently travels all over Europe to keep abreast of the latest innovations in mining technology.
1840-1867 The professor serves as the director of the „Steiermärkische Ständische Montan Lehranstalt“, today known as the University of Mining.
1867-1874 Tunner is a member of the Styrian provincial legislature and then of the Imperial Reichsrat.
1897 Peter Ritter von Tunner dies in Leoben at the age of 88.
Peter Ritter von Tunner (*10.05.1809 +8.06.1897)
| Peter Ritter von Tunner was born in Deutschfeistritz near Graz in Styria. His interest in technology in general and mining in particular developed at an early age and induced him to study at the Polytechnic Institute. After graduating, he became the director of the hammer mill in Katsch near Murau.
Professor
| At the suggestion of Archduke Johann, the committed researcher was made a professor of mining and metallurgy in 1835. However, he did not become the head of the „Steiermärkischen Ständischen Montan Lehranstalt“ in Vordernberg until 1840. Until then, he travelled extensively through Europe. Nine years after Tunner became the head of what is today the University of Mining, the institution was moved to Leoben, where it remains to this day. In his capacity as director, Peter Tunner continued to foster the development of metallurgy in Styria, for example by reforming Styria’s iron smelting industry.
Politician
After Tunner had partly retired from his research work due to his age, he became active in political life. From 1867 to 1871 he was a member of Styria’s provincial legislature, and in the years that followed he became a member of the Reichsrat. Peter Ritter died in Leoben at the age of 88.