The New International Encyclopædia/Divisch, Procopius

DIVISCH, dē′vīsb, Procopius (1696–1765). An Austrian scientist, born in Senftenberg. He entered the Præmonstrant Order, and became pastor at Brendiz. In 1754—and thus two years after Franklin’s kite experiment—he erected in an open field the first lightning-conductor on the Continent. The apparatus was destroyed by the peasants, who attributed to it the drought of the succeeding summer.