Ernst Abbe

Ernst Karl Abbe (January 23, 1840 - January 14, 1905), was a German physicist.

Abbe is best known for his work in optics; however, during his association with Carl Zeiss' microscope works, in Jena, he introduced the eight-hour workday, in remembrance of the 14-hour workday of his own father. The eight-hour workday would not be widely emulated in the United States until its use in the next century by the Ford Motor Company 1914, although it was proclaimed in 1884.

See also:

• Aberration in optical systems
• Abbe number
• Abbe prism
• Abbe refractometer