Heurne, Jan van

1. Dates

Born:

Died: 58

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan:

2. Father

Occupation: Aristocrat

Otto van Heurne. Some works say it was a prominent family; Lindeboom says a noble family. Note that Heurne married the daughter of a patrician. I think I am justified to list the father as an aristocrat.

No explicit indication whatever of his financial situation, although it is suggestive that Heurne was able to spend ten years abroad as a student.

3. Nationality

Birth: Dutch

Career: Dutch

Death: Dutch

4. Education

Schooling: Louvain; Paris; Padua, M.D.

Beginning in 1561, he studied medicine in Louvain for two years.

After three more years of study in Paris, he moved on to Padua in 1567. M.D. there in 1571. I assume a B.A. or its equivalent.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic, Calvinist

He converted to Calvinism about the time when the Netherlands became Calvinist. He had to be Calvinist to hold a chair in Leiden.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Medicine

In the history of medicine he is known primarily for his advocacy of bedside teaching, which was rare then and unknown in the Netherlands. It was introduced in Leiden (under his son) half a century later.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Medicine, Academia

Secondary: Patronage

Immediately after completing his medical education, he was for two years the personal physician to Francois Perrenot, the nephew (Lindeboom says brother) of Cardinal Granvelle. When Heurne converted to Calvinism, he left to return to the Netherlands.

He practiced medicine in Utrecht from 1573 until 1581. I gather that he continued his practice after his move to Utrecht; he was known as one of the most prominent physicians in the Netherlands, whose patients included William and Maurice of Orange.

In 1581 he was appointed professor of medicine at Leiden, a position he held until his death. He was Rector of the university during six separate years between 1583 and 1600.

8. Patronage

Types: Aristrocrat, Court Official

See the entries above. Recall as well that someone stood behind the appointment at Leiden.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. G.A. Lindeboom, Dutch Medical Biography.
2. A. Hirsch, Biographisches Lexikon der hervorragenden Aerzte aller Zeiten und Voelker (3rd ed., Munich, 1962), 3, 205.
3. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biographisch Woordenboek.

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.