Adolphus Vorstius


Adolphus Vorstius was a Dutch physician and botanist.

Life

He was the son of Aelius Everhardus Vorstius and his wife. After attending the Latin School in Leiden, he enrolled in the University of Leiden in 1612. Here, he learned Greek under Henricus Bredius and Bonaventura Vulcanius, and studied the writings of Homer and Lucian. He also attended the lectures of Petrus Cunaeus, Daniel Heinsius, and employed to Thomas Erpenius with the Arabic language These language studies were designed to expand his possibilities in the study of botany. He also graduated from the then usual studies such as music, art and natural history.
After he had defended a Disputatatio de Motu under Gilbert Jacheus, he spent seven years on a grand tour. This led him to Belgian, British, French and Italian universities. After further studies under Paul Reneaulme in Blois, he earned his doctorate at the University of Padua under Adriaan van den Spiegel on 20 August 1622 as a doctor of medicine. Returned home, he received from the Regent Maurice of Orange an appointment as associate professor of medicine at the University of Leiden; an office he stepped up to on 10 February 1624.
On 13 May 1625 he became a full professor of medicine and botany, to which the management of the Hortus Botanicus was connected. For this, he produced a catalog that captured the continuous growth of the botanical garden. In addition, he also participated in the organizational tasks of the University of Leiden and was in the years 1636, 1652 and 1660 rector of the Alma Mater. A stone disease ended his life at the age of sixty-two.
In October 1626 he married Catherine van der Meulen, daughter of Daniel van der Meulen and Esther de la Faille. The marriage did produce children. His son Eberhard is known.

Works