Markgraf [Marcgraf], Georg

1. Dates

Born: Liebstadt, Saxony, 20 Sept. 1610

Died: Dutch settlement in Luanda, Africa, 1644

Dateinfo: Death Uncertain

Lifespan: 34

2. Father

Occupation: A Schoolmaster

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Liebstadt, Saxony, Germany

Career: Dutch settlement in South America

Death: Dutch settlement in Luanda, Africa

4. Education

Schooling: Leiden

Educated at home by his father, headmaster of Liebstadt school.

1627, he began to travel and study throughout Germany, visiting about ten different universities.

1636, matriculated at the Univ. of Leiden. Worked there at astronomy for two years. No mention of a degree.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Calvinist

In fact his religion is unknown, but Calvinist is likely enough that I assume it.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Astronomy, Botany, Zoology

Subordinate: Cartography

7. Means of Support

Primary: Patronage (From Maurice Of Nassau)

1638, sailed with military and exploratory expedition to Dutch settlements in Brazil under Maurice. He had been recommended to Maurice by Jan de Laet, a director of the West Indies Company.

1644, left South America for Dutch settlements in East Africa, where he died of yellow fever.

8. Patronage

Types: Merchant, Court

The expedition was under the leadership of Maurice of Nassau (of the Dutch ruling family), who appears to have assembled an intellectual court of sorts. Markgraf was recruited, initially by de Laet, as an astronomer to accompany the expedition. Maurice established an observatory for him at Recife, from which came the first serious study of the southern sky. He composed a manuscript treatise. He also mapped the region and carried out a study of its natural history. When Markgraf died, he had already given all his collections and notes over to Maurice, who had taken them back to the Netherlands.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Military Engineering, Cartography

The expedition founded the town of Mauritzstad and built the castle of Vrijburg (in the tower of which Markgraf had an observatory) on Antonio Vaz island (Recife). Markgraf drew up the plan of the city and its fortifications, and mapped the region from Rio Sao Francisco to Ceara and Maranhao.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. R. von Ihering, "George Marcgrave" [in Portuguese] Revista do Museu Paulista, 9 (1914), 307-15. [Q33.S2]
2. J. Moreira, "Marcgrave e Piso" [in Portuguese] Revista de Museu Paulista, 14 (1926), 649-73. [Q33.S2]

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. E.W. Gudger, an article on Markgraf in Popular Science Monthly, 9 (1912).
2. P.J.P. Whitehead, "Georg Markgraf and Brazilian Zoology," in E.
3. van den Boogaart, ed. Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, 1604- 1679: A Humanist Prince in Europe and Brazil, (The Hague: Johan Maurits van Nassau Stichting, 1979), pp. 424-71. D.J. Struik, "Mauricio de Nassau, Scientific Maecenas in Brasil," Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Historia de Ciencia, 2 (1985), 21-6.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

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