Stampioen, Jan Jansz. de Jonge

1. Dates

Born: Rotterdam, 1610.

Died: The Hague, after 1689

Dateinfo: Death Uncertain

Lifespan: 79

2. Father

Occupation: Artisan, Engineer

Jan Jansz. Stampioen, maker of astronomical instruments and an official surveyor. I list him as both artisan and engineer.

No information on financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Dutch

Career: Dutch

Death: Dutch

4. Education

Schooling: No University

No mention of a university.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Calvinist (assumed)

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mathematics

1632, published on spherical trigonometry.

1639, a work on algebra.

A challenge problem involving cubics that he issued anonymously generated a bitter dispute with Waessenaer, in which Descartes was covertly involved.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Schoolmastering, Patronage

He taught mathematics in Rotterdam.

He became tutor to Prince William (II) in 1638 and moved to the Hague.

In The Hague he opened a printing shop, but it appears that it sole function was to issue Stampioen's writings.

In 1644 he became tutor in mathematics to the two Huygens boys.

8. Patronage

Types: Court Official, Government Official

See above.

He dedicated his Algebra to Prince Frederik Hendrik.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Cartography, Navigation

He issued a topographical map in 1650.

In 1698 (the last thing known about him) he served as a technical expert in a test of a method to determine longitude.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biographisch Woordenboek.
2. Bierens de Haan, "Bouwstoffen voor de geschiedenis der wis- en natuurkundigen wetenschappen en de Nederlanden, XXX: J.J.
3. Stampioen de Jonge en Jacob à Waessenaer," Verslagen en mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, Afdeeling Natuurkunde, 3rd ser., 3, (Amsterdam, 1887), 69-119.
4. There is simply not much information about Stampioen, who is known primarily for having crossed swords with Descartes.

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.