Metius, Adriaan

1. Dates

Born: Alkmaar, Netherlands, 9 Dec 1571

Died: Franeker, 1635.

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 64

2. Father

Occupation: Engineer

His father was a cartographer and military engineer.

Considering his career, he had to be prosperous.

3. Nationality

Birth: Alkmaar, Netherlands

Career: Netherlands

Death: Franeker, Frisia

4. Education

Schooling: Franeker, Leiden

Attended a Latin school in Alkmaar.

1589, entered the recently-founded Univ. of Franeker, studying philsophy.

1594, continued his studies at Leiden, where he was taught by Snell and van Ceulen.

Given the apparent five years at Franeker, I assume a B.A.

1625, received an honorary M.D. from Univ. of Franeker, which I do not list.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Assume Calvinist

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mathematics, Astronomy

Subordinate: Alchemy, Instrumentation, Engineering

De Waard says that he spent a lot of time pursuing the philosophers' stone.

He published on the astrolabe and on surveying.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Academia

Secondary: Engineering

Worked under Tycho at Hveen, but only briefly.

Went from there to Rostock and Jena, where he gave lectures in 1595.

He then returned home and assisted his father in military engineering.

1598, appointed professor extraordinarius at Franeker.

1600-1635, professor ordinarius of mathematics, navigation, surveying, military engineering, and astronomy. He was allowed to teach in the vernacular.

Rector of the university in 1603 and 1632.

8. Patronage

Type: Court

After the printing of his first book, he came to the attention of prince Mauritz and Willem Lodewijk who, on 30 May 1598, were instrumental in having him named as successor to Joh. Roggins as Professor extraordinarius.

Through his publications he repeatedly won the esteem of the government.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Military Engineering, Cartography, Instruments

He assisted his father for a time as a military engineer.

His teaching at Franeker was especially geared toward the training of Frisian surveyors.

The D.S.B. lists him as an instrument maker, though little is said concerning that. I find in de Waard that he manufactured astronomical instruments.

He developed a special form of Jacob's Staff which was useful in surveying.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. C. de Waard, "Metius," Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, 1 (Leiden, 1911), cols. 1325-7. [ref. CT1143.M72 v.1] Edmond R. Kiely, Surveying Instruments, (New York, 1947), p. 200.

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. W.B.S. Boeles, Frieslands Hoogeschool, 2 (Leeuwarden, 1879), 70- 5.

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.