Heinrich Brucaeus, also Heinrich van den Brock, sometimes falsely Heinrich Brucaeus of Aalst (1530 – 4 January 1593) was a
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
physician,
astronomer and
mathematician.
Life
Heinrich Brucaeus was born in Aalst,
Flanders as the son of the patron Gerhard van den Brock. He was educated at schools and universities in
Ghent,
Paris, and
Bologna, studied
medicine and
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
, and became a doctor of both disciplines at
University of Paris. After that, he worked as a
lecturer
Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...
at the
University of Leuven
He worked as a mathematics professor at
University of Rome. In 1565, he was employed as a
physician of the Maria von Braganza, then joined
Rostock Universityas a professor of
medicine and
astronomy in 1567. This happened, although he was a Catholic. In 1569, 1575, 1581, and 1587, he served as a
Rector of the University. He was also a
physician of the
Duke of
Mecklenburg from 1571 onwards.
The professorship was held by Brucaeus until his death on 4 January 1593. Shortly before, he confessed to
Lutheranism.
Karl Krause calls Brucaeus a very clever physician and an enormously learned mathematician. Brucaeus knew the work of
Nicholas Copernicus, to whom he gave great respect as a mathematician. Probably,
Tycho Brahe learned the
Heliocentrism
Heliocentrism (also known as the Heliocentric model) is the astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun at the center of the universe. Historically, heliocentrism was opposed to geocentrism, which placed the Earth at ...
by Brucaeus during his study stay at the
University of Rostock. Nevertheless, Brucaeus rejected this system according to the consistent opinion of his time.
Selected works
* ''De motu primo libri tres''. Lucius, Rostock 1573.
* ''Mathematicarum exercitationum libri duo''. Lucius, Rostock 1575.
* ''Propositiones de scorbuto''. Lucius, Rostock 1576.
* ''De motu primo libri tres''. 2. Auflage, Lucius, Rostock 1578.
* ''Musica theorica''. 1609. (von
Joachim Burmeister
Joachim Burmeister (1564 in Lüneburg – 5 May 1629 in Rostock) was a north German composer and music theorist.
He was the oldest of five children born to a beadworker and townsman of Lüneburg. His brother Anton (d. 1634) became the cantor of St ...
veröffentlicht)
* ''De motu primo libri tres''. 3. Auflage, Myliander, Rostock 1585.
* ''De motu primo libri tres''. 4. Auflage, Myliander, Rostock 1604.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brucaeus, Henricus
1530 births
1593 deaths
16th-century German astronomers
16th-century German physicians
16th-century German mathematicians
Academic staff of the Sapienza University of Rome
16th-century German writers
16th-century German male writers