When the Freiberg Mining Academy was founded on 13 November 1765, a professorship with the title "Mathematisches Collegium und Zeichenschule" (Mathematical College and School of Drawing) was established so that teaching in mathematics could also begin at Whitsun 1766 with the start of teaching in five subjects. The first professor was Johann Friedrich Wilhelm von Charpentier. For many decades, the content of the mathematical lectures was characterised by the applicability of mathematics to mining and metallurgy.