A sketch of the life of Dr. Duncan Liddel, of Aberdeen / [Anon].

  • Stewart, John
Date:
1790
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A sketch of the life of Dr. Duncan Liddel, of Aberdeen / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    6 Jo Cafelii Epifl. dea. Ty. Brahes Epiji. AJlron. Lib. i. p. 296. Norib. 160X. 7 Cafelii Epiji. ded. 8 Cafelii Epiji. ded. 9 R. Diepbol- dii Orat. qua- /aor funebr. ida Helmajl. i6as. 10 Cafelii Epiji. ded. 11 GaJJendi in 'vita Ty. Bra- 5. ( 2 ) Andreas Duditiiiusf. During his refidence in this univerfity, Liddel isfaid to have made uncommon progrefs in his favourite ftudy of mathematics, under the direction of a very eminent profeffor, Pauius Wittichius L 1584. Mr. Liddel having ftudied here for more than a year, returned to Frankfort, and again applied himfelf to phyfic. He alfo began at the fame time to receive pupils, whom he inftrufted in various branches of mathematics and philofophy 7« 1587. Fie now remained at Frankfort for about three years, when a contagious diftemper having broke out there, and difperfed the ftudents, he retired to the univerfity of Roftock, where, fays Cafelius, his company was moft acceptable to all, but efpecially to Brucaeus J, and myfelf, as well on account of the various learning which the young man pofTeffed, as his modefty and unwearied afliduity in ftudying and teaching 8. Here he renewed his fludies rather as a companion than a pupil of Brucaeu?, who though an excellent mathematician, did not fcruple to confefs that he was inftrufled by Mr. Liddel in the more perfect knowlege of the Copernican fyftem, and other aftronomical queftions 9. For Cafelius like- wife obferves, that as far as he knows, Mr. Liddel was the firfl perfon in Germany, who explained the motions of the heavenly bodies, according to the three different hypothefes of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Tycho Brahe IO, It was probably during Mr. Liddel’s refidence at Roftock, that he firft; became acquainted with the Danifh aftronomer, who had formerly ftudi* ed in this univerfity, and afterwards maintained a frequent correfpondence with Brucasus ax. For that Liddel was well known to this illuftrious perfon, 4 As fome readers may be ignorant who Dudithius was, it may not be improper to mention, that he was a bilhop of the Romifh church, and ambafiador from the emperor to the council of Trent: that he afterwards embraced the proteftant religion, and at length became one of the feft of Soci- nus. He died in 15 *9* . f A Scotfman might naturally enough imagine that Brucms was Bruce latinized, and thence claim an intereft in this profeffor as his countryman. He was however a native of Aloft in Flan¬ ders, and is celebrated by his contemporaries as an eminent phyfician and philofopher. Having £rft read lectures at Paris and Rome, he finally fettled at Roftock, where he died 1593.
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