Baillou, Guillaume de

1. Dates

Born: Paris, ca 1538

Died: Paris, 1616

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 78

2. Father

Occupation: Engineer

His father was a famous mathematician and architect.

A noble family which possessed an estate at Nogent-le- Rotrou. (Hazon mentions the estate, but says nothing about nobility.)

It would be hard to separate the estate from affluence.

3. Nationality

Birth: Paris, France

Career: France

Death: Paris, France

4. Education

Schooling: Paris, M.D.

B.A., Paris, 1568.

M.D., Paris, 1570.

After studying at the University of Paris, where he concentrated especially in Latin, Greek, and Philosophy, he qualified in succession for the baccalaureate and the doctors degrees.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic.

His son entered a monastery.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Medicine

During the many epidemics in Paris between 1570-1579, he developed the idea of ephemerides. As the first epidemiologist since Hippocrates, he left nice descriptions of plague, of measles, and of diphtheria.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Medicine, Acd Became Physician In 1570.

Secondary: Became Dean Of The Faculty Of Medicine In 1586

He taught humanities initially and was later associated with the faculty of medicine, serving eventually as dean for a biennium beginning 1580. He continued to teach for forty-six years.

He practiced medicine, refusing to leave his practice in order to become physician to the Dauphin. However, in 1601 he did become physician ordinaire to Henri IV. Baillou was especially known for treating children.

8. Patronage

Types: Government Official, Court Official

A. Guilliar, president of the Parlement and Councillor of State, let Baillou be educated with his own children at his expense.

Henry IV invited him to be physician to the Dauphin, but Baillou declined. However he did later become physician ordinaire to Henri IV.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. E.W.Goodhall, "A French Epidemiologist of the 16th century" Annals of Medical History, 7 (1935), 409-427.
2. "G. Baillou, Clinician and Epidemiologist" Journal of American Medical Association, 195 (1966), 957 J.A.Hazon, ed., Notice des hommes les plus celebres de la Faculté de Medecine en l'Université de Paris, (Paris 1778), pp. 72-4.

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. A.Cheraeu, "Baillou" in Dictionnaire encyclopedique des sciences medicals, 8, (Paris, 1878).
2. Rene Moreau, life of Baillou at the beginning of Baillou's works.

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.