ISBN: 9780198510536

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Henry Oldenburg

Shaping the Royal Society

Marie Boas Hall


  • '… a book that does much to rescue Oldenburgh from the shadows into which his own reticence about his status and abilities might have cast him. In Hall's hands, Oldenburg is restored to his full humanity as well as to the intellectual reputation that he deserved.' Notes and Records

The career of Henry Oldenburg illuminates the development of the Royal Society during the late 17th century. He fostered the talents of many of the best-known scientists of that time, including Newton, Flamsteed, Malpighi, and Leeuwenhoek, and his relationship with them and others is chronicled in this book.

I: The rise to prominence 1. The slow development of a diplomat 1619-1654 2. Learning the art of scientific correspondence 1655-1661 3. Towards a settled life 1660-1665 4. The difficult years 1665-1667 II: The correspondence: method and content 5. The promoter of philosophical intelligence 1665-1670 6. Scientific diplomacy 1669-1677 (1) Newton's ambassador 7. Scientific diplomacy 1669-1677 (2) Huygens, mathematics, mechanics, and horology 8. The encouragement of talent 1667-1677 9. From friends to enemies: Hooke and Oldenburg 1662-1677 10. Colleagues, friends, and family: the last decade 11. Aftermath Appendix: The fate of Oldenburg's children (with the assistance of P.D. Buchanan Abbreviated titles Notes Bibliography
Marie Boas Hall , Emeritus Reader in History of Science and Technology, Imperial College London
`... gives a nice picture of the intellectual world of Oldenburg's time.' Zentralblatt MATH |d 14/07/2004