Bonaventura, Federigo

1. Dates

Born: Ancona, 24 August 1555

Died: Urbino, 25 March 1602

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 47

2. Father

Occupation: Aristocrat, Soldier

His father, Pietro B., was an officer in the army of the Duke of Urbino and a poet. The family was noble. The father died when Federigo was three.

However, it is obvious that he was reared in wealthy circumstances--see below.

3. Nationality

Birth: Ancona, Italy

Career: Italy

Death: Urbino, Italy

4. Education

Schooling: No University

He was educated at the house of Cardinal Giulio della Rovere in Rome, 1565-1573. Note that the della Rovere family was the ducal family of Urbino; the Cardinal was the brother of the Duke then reigning. Having returned to Urbino, Bonaventura continued his studies, particularly Greek mathematics and natural philosophy. There is no mention of a university, which was not after all for members of his class.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Meteorology

Subordinate: Medicine, Natural Philosophy, Astrology

His most important scientific writings deal with meteorology. Those writings attempted to determine the precise meaning of the ancient texts through philological techniques. he also wrote works on medical subjects (especially De natura partus octomestris, published in 1600) and political philosophy.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Patronage, Government

After his father's death in 1565, he was supported by the Duke of Urbino, who sent him to Rome for study. Following the accession of Duke Francesco Maria II in 1574, he met even greater favor, and continued his studies. Bonaventura had grown up with Francesco Maria in the household of Cardinal della Rovere, and later he apparently played a critical role in installing Francesco Maria as Duke after severe difficulties within Urbino. In addition to his scholarly activities, he served as Urbino's ambassador to several European courts.

8. Patronage

Types: Court Official, Eccesiastic Official

The Duke of Urbino and the Cardinal; see above.

Bonaventura did not like court life. He kept trying to escape from it, but the Duke of Urbino kept calling on his services. Finally (according to Mazzuchelli) the Duke realized what a loss it would be to learning if Bonaventura did not have leisure. Therefore he granted him an honorable stipend and gave him complete freedom. Bonaventura withdrw from the court and thenceforth pursued learning. His last work was dedicated, suitably, to the Duke.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: None

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. G.M. Mazzuchelli, Gli scrittori d'Italia, II, Pt. 3, (Brescia, 1760), pp.1563-1564 P. Vecchietti and T. Moro, Biblioteca picena, III, (Osimo, 1796), pp.1-6 Dizionario biografico degli italiani.
2. C. Grossi, Degli uomini illustri di Urbino, (Urbino, 1819), pp. 58-66.
3. In my opinion, Bonaventura made as minimal contribution to science as anyone in this catalogue. However, his scholarly activity was related to science and thus I have not seen fit to purge him.

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.