Libavius [Libau], Andreas

1. Dates

Born: Halle, ca. 1560

Died: Coburg, 25 Jul 1616

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 56

2. Father

Occupation: Artisan

He was the son of a poor weaver, Johann Libau, who travelled from Harz to Halle in search of work.

3. Nationality

Birth: Halle, Saxony, Germany

Career: Rothenburg and Coburg, Germany

Death: Coburg, Germany

4. Education

Schooling: Wittenberg; Jena, Ph.D.; Basel, M.D.

He attended the Gymnasium in Halle.

1576, entered the University of Wittenberg.

1577, entered the University of Jena. In 1581, he received his Ph.D. and the title of poet laureate. I assume a B.A. or its equivalent.

1588, enrolled at the University of Basel, where he received his M.D.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Lutheran

He was an orthodox Lutheran and strongly opposed Catholics and Calvinists.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Alchemy

Subordinate: Iatrochemistry, Medicine

7. Means of Support

Primary: Schoolmaster, Govt Position

Secondary: Academic, Medical Practice

1581, he became a teacher at Illmenau.

1586, he was appointed "Stadt- und Raths-Schulen Rector" (rector of the schools) in Coburg.

1588-1591, professor of history and poetry at the University of Jena.

1591-1607, moved to Rothenburg, where he became muncipal physician. In 1592, he was also appointed inspector of shools and received a teaching position. Endless quarrels with the rector of the town schools led to his departure.

1607-1616, he returned to Coburg, where he was named rector of the newly-founded Gymnasium Casimirianum Academicum.

8. Patronage

Types: Court Official, Unknown

He corresponded with Landgrave Maurice of Hesse, and dedicated Commentationum metallicorum libri to him, obviously hoping for a position at court, or the chair at the University of Marburg that Johannes Hartmann received.

The positions in Rothenburg and Coburg were not obtained without patronage from some source.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Medical Practice

Though a municipal physician, he paid little attention to medical practice.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. Friedmann Rex, Neue deutsche Biographie, 14, 441a-2a.
2. Ladenburg, Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, 18, 530-2.
3. E. Darmstaedter & G. Brugge, Das Buch der grossen Chemiker, 1 (Weinheim, 1955), 107-124. [Chem. QD21.B9]
4. R.D. Multhauf, "Libavius and Beguin," in E. Farber, ed., Great Chemists, (New York-London, 1961). [Chem. QD21.F21]

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

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