Dasypodius [Rauchfuss], Cunradus

1. Dates

Born: Switzerland, 1530

Died: Germany, 1600

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 70

2. Father

Occupation: Academic, Cleric

Peter Dasypodius taught in Sturm's gymnasium in Strasburg and held church positions.

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Swiss

Career: German

Death: German

4. Education

Schooling: Strassburg

Studied with Christian Herlinus at the famous academy of Johannes Sturm in Strasbourg. (For the time being, I am considering the academy as a university; if it matters, I will try to learn more about it.) Although it is not specifically mentioned, I take him to have had the equivalent of a B.A.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Calvinist

His father, the Swiss humanist Petrus Dasypodius, is described as "reformed" in the Neue Deutsche Biographie.

Sturm was a prominent reformer.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mathematics

Subordinate: Astronomy, Mechanics

He published extensively on mathematics, at the textbook level. He also did some astronomy and he translated Hero's Automata into Latin and drew upon it for the famous clock.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Academia

From 1558, Professor at the academy of Johannes Sturm. I am treating this as university level.

8. Patronage

Types: Aristrocrat, Government Official, Physician

He dedicated his mathematical work of 1570 to the Landgraf of Alsace.

In a dedication Dasyposius thanked the personal physician of the Emperor and a councillor of the Emperor for their assistance.

He dedicated a work of 1572 to a royal councillor in Paris.

He dedicated another work of 1572 to Peter Ramus.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Instruments

1571-4, designed the famous clock in the cathedral at Strasbourg.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

He knew and corresponded with Ramus.

Sources

1. Wilhelm Schmidt, "Heron von Alexandria, Konrad Dasypodius und die Strasburger astronomische Muensteruhr," Abhandlungen zur Geschichte der Mathematik, 8 (1898), 175-194. (Supplement to vol. 42 of Zeitschrift für Mathematik und Physik.) A.G. Kaestner, Geschichte der Mathematik, 4 vols. (Goettingen, 1796-1800), 1, 332-45. Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, 4, 764.

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. J.G.L. Blumhof, Etwas vom alten Mathematiker C. Dasypodius, (Goettingen, 1796).

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.