Baier, Johann Jacob

1. Dates

Born: Jena, Germany, 14 June 1677

Died: Altdorf, Bavaria, 14 July 1735 (some say 11th July)

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 58

2. Father

Occupation: Professor And Minister

Clearly prosperous.

3. Nationality

Birth: German

Career: German (Altdorf)

Death: German (Altdorf)

4. Education

Schooling: Jena, M.A., Ph.D., M.D.; Halle

Secondary: private tutor.

University of Jena: matriculated 1693.

Studied philosophy, classical languages, math, medicine, and "natural science"

Also studied medicine in Halle.

1700, MA, PhD, MD, from Jena.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Lutheran

Son of professor of Protestant theology at University of Jena.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Geology, Paleontology

Subordinate: Natural History, Medicine, Pharmacology

Something called "oryctography" is also named.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Medicine, Academia

Secondary: Patronage, Government

1701, practiced medicine in Nuremberg.

1701,2,3? called to Regensberg as Stadt-Medicus.

1703, directed field hospital (War of Span. Succession).

1704, professor of medicine at Altdorf University.

Twice elected rector of the University (dates?).

8 times dean of University (dates?).

Eventually became Senior of the University.

1731, as a result of presidency of Leopoldina: Count Palatine.

Imperial physician in ordinary (Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie describes this as an honorary title).

Physician in ordinary to Graf of Ansbach.

Administered Altdorf medical officer's district.

Superintendant of Altdorf medical garden.

8. Patronage

Type: Court Official

See above consequences of Leopoldina presidency.

No patron explictly named.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

Some early medical research.

1703, directed field hospital.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: Medical College, Academia Leopoldina

1699-1701, visited northern Germany, spoke to various scholars, looked at collections and libraries.

Wrote books about Altdorf faculty and members of the Leopoldina.

1701? became member of Nuremberg Collegium medicum.

1708, became member of Leopoldina.

Served as adjunct to Leopoldina.

1729, Director of Leopoldina.

1730 (1731?), chosen president of Leopoldina.

Sources

1. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, 3, (Leipzig 1876). (ref room)

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. Joecher, Allgemeines Gelehrten Lexicon, 3, (reprint Hildesheim 1961) -- (reference room) Hirsch, A. Biographishes Lexikon der hervoragenden Aerzte aller Zeiten und Voelker, (1929) -- Z 6658 .B615 (reference room) Hamberger & Meusel, Das gelehrte teutschland [sic], (Augs. 1796 - 1834) -- Z 2230 . H19 (Stacks) J. Ch. Poggendorff, Biographisch-literarisches Handwoerterbuch zu den exakten Wissenschaften, (Leipzig, 1863) -- Z 7404 . P7 (Chem Lib) Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach, "Johann Jakob Baier, einer der ersten deutschen Palaeontologen, ein Beispiel der Willkuer des Nachruhmes," Natur und Volk, 75/76 (1946), 25-31 -- Q 49 .S4
2. (Bio Lib) Various works of Baier -- microprint Q 111 . L2 #B18, #B19, #B19a, #B19b Bruno von Freyberg, "250 Jahre geologische Forschung in Franken", Geologishce Blaetter for Nordost-Bayern und angrenzende Gebiete, 8 (1958), 34-43.
3. "Einfuehrung" (in Baiers wissenschaftliches Lebenswerk), in Erlanger geologishe Abhandlungen, 29 (1958), 7-12.
4. "Memoria viri perillustris, magnifici excellentissimeidque domini Joanni Jacobi Baieri", in Acta physico-medica Academia Caesareae Leopoldina - Carolinae Naturae Curiosorium, 4, Appendix, Biographies, (1737), 35-48.
5. F. Hoefer (ed), Nouvelle Biographie Generale, 4, 1859.
6. F. Ferchl, Chemisch-Pharmazeutiches Bio- und Bibliographicon, Mittenwald (1938).
7. Johann August Vocke, Geburts- und Todten-Almanch Ansbachischer Gelehrten, Schriftsteller und Kuenstler, (1796-97).
8. Georg Andreas Will, Nuernbergishes Gelehrten-Lexicon, (1755- 1802).

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.