In the course of his studies he made great improvements in the refracting telescope; and the achromatic telescope, which he invented, gave him a high rank among the philosophers of his age.

But during the greater part of his life, while he was carrying on his investigations, he continued, until the age of forty-six, to carry on his original trade.

At length he confined himself entirely to making telescopes; and then he gave up his trade of a silk weaver.

Winckelmann, the distinguished writer on classical antiquities and the fine arts, was the son of a shoemaker.

His father endeavoured, as long as he could, to give his hoy a learned education; but becoming ill and worn-out, he had eventually to retire to the hospital.
Winckelmann and his father were once accustomed to sing at night in the streets to raise fees to enable the boy to attend the grammar school.
The younger Winckelmann then undertook, by hard labour, to support his father; and afterwards, by means of teaching, to keep himself at college.