Risner [Reisner, Risnerus], Friedrich

1. Dates

Born: Herzfeld, Hesse, date unknown

Died: Herzfeld, ca. 1580

Dateinfo: Flourished (two dates give known period)

Lifespan: N/A

2. Father

Occupation: Unknown

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Herzfeld, Hesse, Germany

Career: France; Herzfeld, Germany

Death: Herzfeld, Germany

4. Education

Schooling: No University

Unknown.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Lutheran

On the one hand, he was Ramus' associate after Ramus converted. On the other hand, he was buried in the church in Herzfeld, Hesse, and must therefore have been Lutheran.

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Optics

Subordinate: Mathematics

Risner published the works of Alhazen and Witelo in an edition that exerted great influence. His manuscript Opticae libri quattuor (of which much was probably due to Ramus) was published in 1606, long after his death.

He never published any work in mathematics, but Ramus called him his "assistant in mathematical studies."

7. Means of Support

Primary: Patronage

Secondary: Academia

He was Ramus's protégé and colleague throughout most of his scholarly life.

1576, Risner accepted the salary of the first chair in mathematics at the Collège Royale de France for a few months. He never lectured and soon retired to Germany.

8. Patronage

Types: Scientist, Court Official

Ramus was clearly Risner's major patron. In his will, Ramus established a chair in mathematics at the Collège Royale de France and specified that Risner be its first occupant.

Risner dedicated his edition of Alhazen and Witelo to Catherine de Medici.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: None

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. Christian Gottlob Joecher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon (Leipzig, 1750-1; repr., Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1960), 3, 2112.
2. Johann Christoph Adelung, Forsetzungen und Ergaenzungen zu Christian Gottlieb Joechers allgemeinem Gelehrten-Lexicon (Leipzig, 1784-1897; repr. Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 1960), 7, 22.
3. R. Hooykaas, Humanisme, science et réform: Pierre de la Ramée (1515-1572), (Leiden, 1958). [B785.R44H78]
4. J.J. Verdonk, Petrus Ramus en de wiskunde (Assen, 1966), pp. 66-73.
5. Bernardino Baldi, "Vite di matematici arabi tratti da un'opera inedita di Bernardino Baldi," Bullettino di bibliografia e di storia delle scienze matematiche e fisiche, 5, (1872), 461-2.
6. F. Risner, Risneri opticam cum annotationibus Willibrordi Snelli, ed. J.A. Vollgraff, (Ghent, 1918).

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.