Johann Friedrich Schweitzer

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Johann Friedrich Schweitzer (Helvetius)

Johann Friedrich Schweitzer (born January 17, 1630 in Cöthen ; † August 29, 1709 in The Hague ), also known as Johann Friedrich Helvétius , was an advocate of alchemy and the author of various works on alchemy, botany and medicine.

Life

His career began as a doctor and he was initially a clear opponent of alchemy. He studied medicine in Harderwijk and obtained his doctorate with a thesis on the plague . Until about 1676 he lived in The Hague, then he moved to Amsterdam, where he worked as a city doctor and personal physician to Prince Wilhelm III. of Orange was active. He married Johanna Pels (1643–1709) on May 20, 1658, the couple had three children, two sons, Jean Adrien Helvétius , Josephus Johannes Helvetius (1667–1729) and a daughter, Elisabeth Baldina Helvetius (1679–1748). His brother was Andreas Engelhard Schweitzer.

In 1667 he published a detailed report entitled Vitulus Aureus , which was reprinted several times and included in alchemical compilations. Although his works were used by later advocates of alchemy, he was not considered an adept of alchemy himself.

In his work Vitulus Aureus he described his transition to alchemy as follows: On December 27, 1666, Schweitzer received a visit from a mysterious adept of alchemy who claimed to be the owner of the Philosopher's Stone . Using a powdery sample of the stone, he successfully transmutated lead into gold. The stranger himself wanted to visit him the next day, but never appeared again. This encounter turned the original opponent of alchemy into a staunch supporter.

His son Jean Adrien Helvétius studied medicine in The Hague , went to Paris in the 1680s, where he advanced as a court doctor and was able to transfer this privilege to his son Jean Claude Adrien Helvétius . His son, in turn, was the doctor-philosopher Claude Adrien Helvétius .

Publications

  • Xistus herbarum: Funny walk of herbs. Samuel Braun, Heidelberg 1661 (digitized version)
  • Berillus medicus: A gemstone of the Artzney. Samuel Braun, Heidelberg 1661
  • Vitulus aureus quem mundus adorat et orat, in quo tractatur de rarissimo naturae miraculo transmutandi metalla, numpe quomodo tota plumbi substantia, vel intra momentum ex aqua vis minima lapidis veri philosophici particula aurum commutata fuerit Hagae Commitis. Amsterdam 1667 (further editions 1702 and 1705)
  • Johann Friederichs Schweitzer's Guldenes Kalb, which the whole world worships and adores: In which it is traded of a very high miracle of nature to change the metals, namely, like the whole substance ... des Bleyes in a minute of a very small grain of des what was turned into a perfect gold at Graffenhage ...; Made in Teutsch and promoted to print. Felßecker, Nuremberg 1668 (digitized version )
  • (W. Cooper trans.). The golden calf which the world adores and desires. London 1670 (digitized)
  • Johannis Friderici Helvetii Vitulus Aureus Qvem Mundus Adorat Et Orat: Or a very Curieuses Tractätlein: In which The rare and wondrous work of nature in the transformation of their metals is carried out ... Translated from Latin into High German. [Sl] 1705 (digitized version)
  • Vitulus aureus quem mundus adorat et orat. Wilhelm Stock, Frankfurt am Main 1726 (digitized version)
  • Ioannis Friderici Helvetii, Vitulus Aureus, Quem Mundus Adorat Et Orat. Or: A very curious little treatise in which the rare and wondrous work of nature is carried out in the transformation of their metal histories: How namely the whole essence of the Bleyes in a moment with the help of one a very small piece of the white's stone made and transformed into the very best gold by the above-mentioned Mr. Helvetius in The Hague; Translated from the Latin. Eßlinger, Frankfurt a. a. 1767 (digitized version)
  • Johannis Friderici Helvetii Diribitorium medicum, de omnium morborum accidentiumque in et externorum definitionibus ac curationibus: ex saporibus, odoribus foetoribusque provenientibus a fermentorum, effervescentiarum aut putrefactionum salibus, sulphuribus vel mercuriis ... Jansson, Amsterdam 1670 (digital copy )
  • Microscopium physiognomiae medicum: id est, tractatus de physiognomia cuius ope non solum animi motus simul ac corporis defectus iterni, sed & congrua iis remedia noscuntur per externorum lineamentorum ... Jansson-Waesberg, Amsterdam 1676 (digital copy )
  • Johann Friedrich Helvetius (Ed.). Tres elegantes tractatus de Aquis medicatis Nic. Vallerii, Rob. Boyle , Joh [annis] Floyeri [John Floyer (1649-1734)]. Schoonwald, Amsterdam 1718 (digitized)

literature

  • Martha Baldwin in: Clausius Priesner and Karin Figala: Alchemie. Lexicon of a Hermetic Science Beck, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-406-44106-8 , p. 171 f.
  • Lynn Thorndike: A history of magic and experimental science. Vol. 8: The seventeenth century. Columbia University Press, USA 1964, pp. 361 f., 469-471.
  • John Ferguson: Bibliotheca Chemica Vol. 1, London 1954, pp. 383-385.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ other information about the sequence * 1625
  2. ↑ Sean Martin: Alchemy and Alchemists, Pocket Essentials Oldcastle Books London 2006, ISBN 1-9040-4862-5 , p. 77
  3. ↑ Geneagraphie - Families all over the world
  4. ↑ Johann Christoff Beckmann: Historie Des Fürstenthums Anhalt: From its old inhabitants and some old monuments, natural goodness, division, rivers, towns, spots and villages, Fürstl. Your Highness, Stories of the Prince. Persons, Religious Acts In Seven Parts, Volumes 1–4 Zimmermann, 1710 p. 419
  5. ↑ Bibliotheca Chymica. Revu le 3 février 2010, online
personal data
SURNAME Schweitzer, Johann Friedrich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schweitzer, Jan Frederik; Helvetius, Johannes Friedrich; Helvetius, Johan Frederik
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German medic and alchemist
DATE OF BIRTH January 17, 1630
PLACE OF BIRTH Coethen
DATE OF DEATH August 29, 1709
Place of death The hague