Duncan Liddel

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Duncan Liddel (* 1561 in Aberdeen ; † December 17, 1613 ibid) was a Scottish astronomer and physician .

Life

Liddel was born in Aberdeen in 1561, went to school there and attended King's College. In 1579 he embarked on a trip to mainland Europe, which finally took him to Frankfurt an der Oder , where he studied mathematics , philosophy and medicine for three years . In 1582 he continued his studies in Breslau before returning to Frankfurt the following year. The outbreak of an epidemic in 1587 forced him to move again. Liddel went to the University of Rostock , where he made friends with Heinrich Brucaeus , Cornelius Martini and Johannes Caselius , among others , and earned his master's degree. During this time he also met Tycho Brahe and visited him at least twice on the island of Hven . Since Liddel later gave lectures on the tychonic worldview and probably also incorporated his own considerations, Brahe repeatedly accused him of plagiarism. After another short stay in Frankfurt, he followed his friend Caselius to the University of Helmstedt , which had an excellent scientific reputation. In Helmstedt he held mathematical and astronomical lectures, after which he was appointed professor of mathematics in 1594. At the same time he turned increasingly to medicine, was appointed doctor in 1596 and professor of medicine in 1600. Liddel acquired a very good reputation in Germany through his lectures; According to Caselius, he was the first person in Germany to teach the movements of the stars according to the three different hypotheses of Ptolemy , Copernicus and Brahe. In 1607 Liddel returned to Aberdeen, where he died on December 17, 1613. A year after his death, a monument was erected in his honor near Pitmedden ( Aberdeenshire ). He bequeathed his extensive estate of books and mathematical instruments to Marischal College. The library, still owned by the University of Aberdeen, is one of the most important collections of scientific literature of the 16th century.

Remarks

  1. ↑ See the entry of Duncan Liddel's matriculation in the Rostock matriculation portal
  2. ↑ See the entry of Duncan Liddel's Bachelor and Magister doctorate in the Rostock matriculation portal
  3. ↑ Entry on Liddell's Monument  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

literature

personal data
SURNAME Liddel, Duncan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Scottish astronomer and medic
DATE OF BIRTH 1561
PLACE OF BIRTH Aberdeen
DATE OF DEATH December 17, 1613
Place of death Aberdeen