Khunrath [Kunrath, Kuhnrat[h], Cunradius, Conrathus], Conrad

1. Dates

Born: Leipzig, date unknown

Died: unknown place, not later than 1614

Dateinfo: Flourished (two dates give known period)

Lifespan: N/A

2. Father

Occupation: Unknown

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Leipzig, Germany

Career: Holstein, then part of Denmark

Death: unknown

4. Education

Schooling: Leipzig

It is possible, but has not been proven, that he identical with a person of the same name and place of birth who enrolled at the University of Leipzig in the winter of 1562.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Lutheran (assumed)

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Medicine, Pharmacology, Iatrochemistry

He was a follower of Paracelsus and attributed some cures to the influence of the planets, but I have seen few secondary sources that call him an alchemist and none that call him an iatrochemist (though it seems to be the only possible category for a Paracelsian).

7. Means of Support

Primary: Medicine

He lived in the duchy of Holstein (then Danish) for a number of years and at Schleswig (1594). I presume he practiced medicine.

8. Patronage

Type: None

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. R.J. Forbes, A Short History of the Art of Distillation (Leiden, 1970), pp. 153, 158, 380. [Chem QD63.D6 F6] Hans Kango, Joachim Jungius Experimente und Gedanken zur Begruendung der Chemie als Wissenschaft; ein Beitrag zur Geistesgeschichte des 17. Jahrhunderts (Wiesbaden, 1968), p. 307. [QD14.K16]
2. Christian Gottlob Joecher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon (Leipzig, 1750-1751; repr., Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1960), 2, 2081.
3. Johann Christoph Adelung, Forsetzungen und Ergaenzungen zu Christian Gottlieb Joechers allgemeinem Gelehrten-Lexicon (Leipzig, 1784-1897; repr. Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1960), 3, 312-13.

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.