Joseph Walcher

Joseph Walcher (8 January 1719 – 29 November 1803) was an Austrian Jesuit mathematician and physicist.

He was involved in management and engineering of structures on the Danube river to enhance navigability and aid shipping.

After the abolition of the Jesuit order in 1773, he was put in charge of navigation on the Danube by Maria Theresa because of his expertise in hydraulics.

He helped direct improvements in shipping and navigation based on the management of the Rhine.

[1] Under his direction several whirlpools in the Strudel rapids and dangerous rocky sections of the Wolfskügel and the Meisenkügel were cleared up.

A picture of the famous eddy in the Danube. The island of Hausstein was eventually blown up in 1853.