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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
- Friedmann Rex, Neue deutsche Biographie, 14, 441a-2a.
- Ladenburg, Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, 18, 530-2.
- E. Darmstaedter & G. Brugge, Das Buch der grossen Chemiker, 1 (Weinheim, 1955), 107-124. [Chem. QD21.B9]
- 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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