Fraunhofer ’ s family were very poor and as a young boy he became an “apprentice”. For three years he was taught how to grind lenses and mirrors, and thus he became very interested in optics; but as a boy from the lowest social class he had no chance or opportunity to study, and his application to study was turned down. Thus, he taught himself secretly, and invented the optical grating, which later “enriched” science tremendously. At the beginning of these activities he was not accepted by the German scientific/academic community. Nevertheless, after many years they had to accept his work and finally he even became Professor of Physics in Munich and a highly respected person.