Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography


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JUNGIUS (JUNG), Joachim.

(1587 – 1657)

(Born: Lubeck, Germany, 22 October 1587; Died: Hamburg, Germany, 22/23 September 1657) German physician & naturalist.

Jungius was educated in philosophy at the University of Giessen and received in 1618 his M.D. from Padua, Italy. He was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Giessen where he remained from 1608 to 1614. Subsequently, Jungius became professor of medicine at the Universities of Rostock (1624-25) and Helmstadt (1625-26). Appointed as Rector of the Hamburg Gymnasium (1628-29). Jungius founded in 1622 in Rostock the short lived philosophical society Societas Ereunetica. He was an early champion of the atomic theory and developed a method of plant classification based on genus and species which foreshadowed Linneaus.

Biographical references: DBA: I 614, 210-222; II 665, 366-367. Hirsch, Biographisches Lexikon, 1884-8. LKG: 292. Poggendorff: 1, col. 1211. WBI. World Who's Who in Science: 898.

1. Latin, 1689.
Joachimi Jungii, Lub., Med. Doct. | Giessæ & Rostochii Mathematum; Helmæst. Med. PP.; | Hamburgi Scholæ Gymnasiique Rectoris, Logicaeque & Physicæ | Professoris; jam 1667 23 Sep. pie defuncti scheda- | rum fasciculus (32), inscriptus | Mineralia, | Concinnari in systema cœptus à | Christiano Bunckio, Med. D. & Reip. Hamb. | Physico, utque ab eo mox defuncto relictus erat, ita | editus, recensente | Johanne Vagetio, Log. & Metaph. in Gymn. | Hamb. P.P. | cujus Admonitiones quædam accedunt Schedarum | Jungianarum indolem exhibentes | cognoscendam. | [ornament] | Hamburgi, | [rule] | Typis Henningi Brendekii, 1689.

4°: *2 A-Oo4; 174l.; [2], [1]-343 p., one folding plate.

Contents: [2 pgs], Title page, verso blank.; [2 pgs], Dedication to Johanni Garmero, signed Johann Vagetius, 9 April 1689.; [1]-343, Text.; [1 pg], Blank.

Very rare. Edited by Christian Bunck [    -1659] and Johann Vaget [1633-1691]. During his lifetime Jungius published little, but left directions in his will that his very large collection of papers (which were difficult to read) should be arranged and published, and a bequest was left for this undertaking. Among these was the Mineralia that consists primarily of excerpts from printed books and criticisms of Agricola principally on philosophical points. Jungius also refutes Agricola's classification of minerals into earths, concrete juices, stones and metals, substituting a system of metals, sulfur, salts, and stones. However, Jungius' criticism of contemporary mineral chemistry and his support of an atomic theory was an important step in the development of chemical theory comparable to Agricola's work with respect to the physical theory of minerals.

Bibliographical references: BL [990.h.3.]. DSB: 7, 193-7 [by H. Kangro]. Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 1, 24. LKG: XII 4 & XVI 60. Multhauf, Beginning of Mineralogical Chemistry, 1958. Partington, History of Chemistry, 1961-70: 2, 415-22. VD17: 12:653127W.

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