Borelli, Giovanni Alfonso

1. Dates

Born: Naples, 28 Jan. 1608 (Borelli deliberately obscured his date and place of birth, apparently to conceal his connection to his father's political difficulties, and possibly his own connections with Campanella. Baldini cites his baptismal record, however, and it appears decisive.)

Died: Rome, 31 Dec. 1679

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 71

2. Father

Occupation: A Spanish Soldier In The Garrison In Naples

There is every reason to think the family was poor.

3. Nationality

Birth: Italy

Career: Italy

Death: Italy

4. Education

Schooling: Naples, M.D.

It is possible that he was taught by Tommaso Campanella, while the latter was a prisoner at the Castel Nuovo, Naples, where Borelli's father was stationed.

It is also possible that he received medical training at the University of Naples, but no records of his attendance or any degree exist. Baldini thinks this is not just possible but probable, and I am accepting his argument.

After 1628, he became a student of Castelli in Rome, at the same time as Torricelli.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mathematics, Physiology, Astronomy

Subordinate: Mechanics, Medicine, Geology

Borrelli was basically a mathematician during the first two decades of his career. In 1658, he published Eculidus restitutus.

In 1649, he published a work on malignant fevers.

He carried out an important investigation of volcanoes.

Borelli, who ranged very widely could also be listed under anatomy (in Pisa, he carried out extensive anatomical dissections), natural philosophy (he was an important figure in the development of the corpuscular or mechanical philosophy), hydraulics, and meteorology.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Academic Position, Patronage

Secondary: Schoolmaster

1637, Public Lectureship in Mathematics at Messina.

1642, Senate of Messina, (perhaps encouraged by Castelli) made him a member of the city nobility and provided him with ample funds and sent him on a tour to hire teachers away from leading universities. During this period he became friendly with the family of the Rao-Requesens, one of the most important families in Sicily; he was especially close to Simone R-R.

1643-56, remained at Messina. Poggendorff [ref. Z7404.P72 v.1, 239] indicates a professorship from 1649.

1656-67, Professor of mathematics at Pisa. He was there at the behest of the Medici.

1667-72, returned to Messina, and resumed chair.

Borelli fled Sicily for political reasons. In Rome he became the physician of Queen Christian of Sweden, who supported him as far as her means allowed.

1677-9, taught mathematics at the Scuole Pie, Rome.

8. Patronage

Types: Court, City Magistrates, Aristocracy

Primarily supported through many years by the Senate of Messina.

After fleeing political turmoil in Messina for Rome, in 1672, and needing support, he petitioned Cassini, a member of the Académie, for royal support. Negotiations were underway for dedication of De motu animalium, in 1677, when all of Borelli's belongings were stolen.

1679, he eventually dedicated De motu animalium to Queen Christina, who had agreed to pay the printing costs, see also below.

The Medici brought Borelli to Pisa.

He dedicated his work on the Natural Motion of Heavy Bodies to the Marchese di Arena, Secretary of the Accad. degli Investiganti (Naples)

He dedicated De vi percussionis to Giacopo Ruffo, Viscount of Francavilla, his pupil and friend both in Pisa and Messina.

Queen Christina guaranteed the publication of De motu animalium.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Medical Practice, Instruments, Hydraulics, Cartography

1647-8, at the urging of the senate of Messina, he studied the epidemic fevers raging through the population, and devised a treatment, though it does not seem to have been widely applied.

1665, established an observatory at the fortress of San Miniato with some instruments of his own design.

While in Florence, he edited books on hydraulics and worked for the Grand Duke on lagoons near Pisa.

Borelli proposed a method of determining longitudes with a clock.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: Accademia del Cimento, Accademia degli Investiganti (Naples)

A member of Messina's Accademia della Fucina (date not certain); the Accademia del Cimento, Tuscany (ca. 1656-6); the Accademia degli Investiganti, Naples; and a founding member of the Accademia dell'Esperienza or Accademia Fisica- matematica (1677) which Queen Christina supported.

Sources

1. U. Baldini, "Borelli, Giovanni Alfonso," Dizionario biografico degli Italiani, 12 (Rome, 1970), 543-551. [ref. CT1123.D62 v.12] _____. "Gli studi su Giovanni Alfonso Borelli," in G. Arrighi, et al., La scuola galileiana. Prospettive di ricerca, Atti del convengo di studio di Santa Margherita Ligure, 26-28 ottobre 1978, (Firenze, 1979), pp. 111-35. This article is a gold mine of information and bibliography on research on Borelli.
2. P. Capparoni, Profili bio-bibliografici di medici e naturalisti celebri italiani dal sec. XV al sec. XVII, 2 vols. (Rome, 1928) 1, 64-6. In the copy I have, vol. 1 is from the second ed, and vol. 2 from the first. I gather that pagination in the two editions is not identical.
3. G.M. Mazzuchelli, Gli scrittori d'Italia, (Brescia, 1753- ), 2, pt. 3, 1709-14.
4. T. Derenzini, "Giovanni Alfonso Borelli, fisico," in Celebrazione della Accademia del cimento nel tricentenario della fondazione, (Pisa, 1958), pp. 35-52.
5. P. Riccardi, Biblioteca matematica italiana, 1, 457-62.
6. Works not available and not consulted: Angelo Fabroni, Vitae italorum doctrina excellentium, 2 (Pisa, 1778), 222-324 - evidently a good source. Gustavo Barbensi, Borelli (Trieste, 1947).
7. M. Del Gaizo, "Contributo allo studio della vita di G.A.B.," Atti della Acc. Pontaniana, 20 (1890), 1-48.
8. _____, "E. Torricelli e G.A.B.," Revista di fisica, mat. e sc.
9. naturalis, 9 (1908), 385-402 _____, a whole lot ot other articles in Baldini's extensive bibliography.
10. E. Gugino, L'opera di G.A. Borelli, Annuario della R. Università degli studi di Messina, 1929-30.
11. P. Capparoni, "Sulla patria di Giovanni Alfonso Borelli," Revista di storia delle scienze medechi e naturali, (1931), pp. 60f.
12. U. Baldini, "Galileismo e politica: il caso borelliano," Annali dell'Istituto e Museo di storia della scienze di Firenze, 3 (1978).

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.