Name Duncan Liddel | ||
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Died December 17, 1613, Aberdeen, United Kingdom | ||
Duncan Liddel (also Duncan Liddell; 1561 – 17 December 1613) was a Scottish mathematician, physician and astronomer.
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Life
Liddel was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Having received an education in languages and philosophy at the local school and university of King's College, he went abroad at age 18. Moving to Gdańsk in Polish Prussia first, he arrived after a few months at the Brandenburg university of Frankfurt (Oder) (Viadrina), where a Scot, John Craig was teaching logic and mathematics; Craig superintended his studies.
Three years later Craig returned to Scotland to become physician to King James VI, and Liddel, on his advice, moved to Breslau in Silesia, where he studied mathematics under Paul Wittich, and encountered Andreas Dudith. In 1584 he returned to Frankfurt, took pupils in mathematics and philosophy, and took up the study of physic. In 1587 an epidemic drove him to the University of Rostock in Mecklenburg, where he became the friend of Johannes Caselius, Heinrich Brucaeus and Cornelius Martini; and received the degree of master in philosophy. With the help of his new contacts, he visited Tycho Brahe in Ven in 1587 and again the following year.
Shortly after his return to Frankfurt in 1590, Liddel joined the new University of Helmstedt established by Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Caselius had already been appointed to the chair of philosophy there. Next year Liddel obtained the lower mathematical chair vacated by Parcovius, and in 1594 he succeeded Erhardus Hoffmann in the higher mathematical chair. In 1596 he became M.D. of the university, and began publicly to teach physic and to act as præses at the recitation of medical dissertations. In 1599 he was dean of the faculty of philosophy; in 1603 he resigned his mathematical professorship, and in 1604 became pro-rector of the university.
Liddel returned to Scotland in 1607, financially secure. In 1612 he endowed the university of Aberdeen with lands for the education and support of six poor scholars; and in 1613 he endowed a professorship of mathematics in Marischal College. He died on 17 December 1613, at age 51. His funeral sermon was given by Gilbert Gray of Marischal College.
Legacy
Liddel bequeathed his books and instruments to Marischal College. A brass memorial figure of him was later set up in the Kirk of St Nicholas, Aberdeen.
Reputation
Liddel was reputed as a mathematician in Germany, where he was said to have been the first to teach the astronomy of Copernicus and of Tycho Brahe side by side with the Ptolemaic system. Caselius considered that Liddel was the first teacher of Brahe's system; and Brahe complained of plagiarism.
In theology, also, Liddel built a reputation. He found arguments against the Lutheran theologian Daniel Hofmann, who had deployed the doctrine of double truth at Helmstedt in a divisive fashion.
Works
Liddel wrote medical books: