Bonomo [Bonomi], Giovan

1. Dates

Born: Livorno, 30 November 1666

Died: Firenze, 13 January 1696

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 30

2. Father

Occupation: Merchant

It is known only that the father was a French grocer in Livorno.

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Leghorn, Italy

Career: Italy, Germany

Death: Florence, Italy

4. Education

Schooling: Pisa, MD, Ph.D.

He received the doctorate in philosophy and medicine at the University of Pisa in 1682. I assume a B.A. or its equivalent.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Medicine

His major work, done in collaboration with Cestoni in Livorno, Observazioni intorno a'pellicelli del corpo umano (1687), affirmed that scabies was caused by mites and provided the first clinical and experimental proof of the "live" infection.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Medicine, Government, Patronage

He began medical practice in 1683, and twice served as physician in the galleys of Grand Duke Cosimo III. In 1691, the Grand Duke appointed Bonomo physician to his daughter, who had married to the elector of the Rhenish Palatinate. He spent the rest of his life at the Palatinate court until he came home, fatally ill, to die.

After the first expedition with the galleys in 1684-5, Bonomo appears to have practiced, without great success, in Livorno. In 1690 he got a second appointment to a galley.

8. Patronage

Types: Scientist, Court Official

Grand Duke Cosimo III and his daughter's husband. See above.

However, Redi was Bonomo's original and principal promoter. He gained Bonomo's appointments to the galleys and later his appointment with the daughter of the Grand Duke. However, Redi did not recognize the significance of Bonomo's work on scabies.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. Dizionario biografico degli italiani.
2. G.M. Mazzuchelli, Gli scrittori d'Italia, (Brescia, 1753- ), 2, pt. 3, 1678.
3. Ugo Faucci, "contributo alla storia della scabbia" in Rivista di storia delle scienze mediche e naturali, 22(1931) pp.153-170, 198-215,257-371, 441-475.

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. Luigi Belloni, "I secoli italiani della dottrina del contagio vivo" in Simposi clinici, 4 (1967) liii.
2. C. Lombardo, "Giovan Cosimo Bonomo a Pisa" ibid, 29 (1938), pp.97-121.

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.