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Maestlin, Michael
- 1. Dates
- Born: Goepingen, Germany, 30 Sept 1550
- Died: Tübingen, 20 Oct 1631
- Dateinfo: Dates Certain
- Lifespan: 81
- 2. Father
- Occupation: A Merchant
- No information on financial status.
- 3. Nationality
- Birth: Goepingen, Germany
- Career: Germany
- Death: Tuebingen, Germany
- 4. Education
- Schooling: Tübingen, M.A.
- Attended monastery schools at Koenigsbronn and Herrenalb.
- 1568, matriculated at Tuebingen. Heard mathematics and astronomy lectures from Peter Apian.
- 1569, B.A., Tuebingen.
- 1571, M.A., Tuebingen, then entered theological course.
- 5. Religion
- Affiliation: Lutheran : Lutheran
- 6. Scientific Disciplines
- Primary: Astronomy
- 7. Means of Support
- Primary: Acd;
- Secondary: Church Life
- 1575-1580, appointed to the Lutheran pastorate in Backnang, near Stuttgart.
- 1580, appointed professor of mathematics, Univ. of Heidelberg.
- 1584-1631, professor of mathematics, Univ. of Tuebingen, replacing Apian who had been dismissed for refusing to sign Lutheran oath of religious allegiance.
- Between 1588 and 1629, elected dean of Tuebingen arts faculty eight times.
- 8. Patronage
- Type: Court
- While a student he had been supported by a stipend from the Duke of Wuerttemberg, in order that he might be prepared for service in the Lutheran church.
- Influence has to have been behind the professorial appointment, probably influence at court.
- 9. Technological Involvement
- Type: None
- He made most of his own astronomical instruments, but was not involved in any kind of instrument trade. I won't list this because it does not involve the development of a new instrument.
- 10. Scientific Societies
- Memberships: None
- Connections: taught and corresponded with Kepler.
- Sources
- Volker Bialas, "Maestlin," Neue deutsche Biographie, 15 (Berlin, 1987), 644-5.
- Not Available and Not Consulted
- Viktor Kommerell, "Michael Maestlin," Schwaebische Lebensbilder, 4 (Stuttgart, 1948), 86-100.
- Karl Steiff, "Der Tuebingen Professor der Mathematik und Astronomie Michael Maestlin," Literarische Beilage des Staats-Anzeiger fuer Wuerttemberg (30 April 1892), 49-64.
- J.G.F. von Bohnenberger, "Michael Maestlin," Wuerttembergische Vierteljahrsheft fuer Landesgeschichte, 12 (1903), 244-7.
- Compiled by:
- Richard S. Westfall
- Department of History and Philosophy of Science
- Indiana University
Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue
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