Vincent Placcius (1642-1699) was a German writer, professor, jurist and polymath.

Life

He was born in 1642 and died in 1699. He was a professor of ''morals and eloquence'' for twenty-four years.

Works

He is chiefly remembered for his work "The Art of Excerpting" which in its day could be considered to be a precursor to the computer hard disk. Several of his works have been auctioned for large sums by Christie's.

Excerpts

John Gorton's General Biographical Dictionary provides the following information about Vincent Placcius: ''Vincent Placcius, a learned jurist, was born at

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...

in 1642. He studied at

Helmstadt Helmstadt is a municipality in the Lower Franconian district of Würzburg in Bavaria in Germany. Geography Municipal structure Helmstadt consists of two districts: * Helmstadt * Holzkirchhausen Neighboring municipalities * Holzkirche ...

, and after travelling in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, he returned to his native city, where he practiced at the bar, and was appointed professor of morals and eloquence, which post he held until his death in 1699. His principal work is a curious bibliographical piece respecting anonymous and pseudonymous writers, entitled "De Scriptis et Scriptoribus anonymis atque pseudonymis Syntagma".'' Alexander Chalmers' General Biographical Dictionary provides the following information about Vincent Placcius: ''Vincent Placcius was an eminent philologer of Hamburgh, where he was born in 1642, completed his studies at Helmstadt and Leipzig, and improved his talents by travelling in France and Italy. When he returned, he applied himself to the bar, and afterwards became professor of morals and eloquence, in which situation he continued twenty-four years. He was beloved by his pupils, and when he died, April 6, 1699, regretted by his countrymen in general, who had considered him as an oracle. His works are, 1. “A Dictionary of anonymous and pseudonymous Authors,” published in 1708, in 2 vols. folio, by the care of Fabricius a curious work, but abounding with faults, 2. “De jurisconsulto perito Liber,” 1693, 8vo. 3. “Carmina juvenilia,” Amst. 1667, 12mo. 4. “De arte excerpendi,” Hamburgh, 1689, 8vo, with several others, all testifying, and abundantly proving, his talents and erudition.''

References

External links

Wikisource-Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Placcius, Vincent 1642 births 1699 deaths German non-fiction writers Jurists from Hamburg German male non-fiction writers