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Front page, forword and index

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GEORGIUS AGRICOLA
Georgius Agricola, the "Father of Mineralogy," was born Georgius Pawer or Bauer at Glauchau, Saxony, March 24, 1491 and died at Chem­nitz, Germany, November 21, 1555. Almost nothing is known of his par­ents and early life.
He entered Leipzig University in 1514 and graduated in 1517 or 1518 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the classics. Either during his stu­dent days or shortly thereafter he Latinized his name to Agricola.
From 1517 or 1518 until 1522 Agricola taught Latin and Greek at Zwickau and during this period published his first book, a Latin grammar, in 1520. While at Leipzig and Zwickau he studied philology and acquired a wide knowledge of the works of writers of Classic times. Apparently he also developed an interest in political science and medicine for in 1522 he commenced the study of medicine at Leipzig. In 1524 he went to Italy where he studied medicine and philosophy at Bologna and Padua and took his degree in the former at Ferrara University in 1526.
In 1526 he returned to Zwickau to practice medicine and in the follow­ing year was appointed Public Physician of the city of Joachimsthal, the center of one of the world famous mining districts which had been dis­covered, or opened up, some ten years earlier. In 1533 he resigned his post at Joachimsthal and in 1534 was appointed to the same post at Chemnitz, another world famous mining center, where he lived until his death.
It was at Joachimsthal that Agricola's interest was directed toward mining, mineralogy and geology. He visited mines and smelters, first in the discharge of his duties and then because of his growing interest in all phases of the mining industry. Here he had the opportunity to study mines at first hand and his unusual powers of observation together with his broad classical background and keen mind laid the foundations for his later writing which shows him to have been at least a century in advance of his time.
While at Joachimsthal he wrote Bermannus, his first work on mining, in 1528, and published it in 1530. In 1545 or 1546 Agricola was appointed Burgemeister of Chemnitz and continued to be appointed to public offices for the rest of his life. Because of his interest in political and natural sciences he attracted the attention of Duke Maurice and Duke Augustus of Saxony who appointed him to several public posts and encouraged and assisted him in publishing his various works. He held public offices in Leipzig, Freiberg, and Dresden and was envoy of Duke Maurice to Austria and Spain. Little is known of his activities in these various posts but it can be assumed that he discharged the duties with credit in view of his numerous appointments. While a student in Italy he met Erasmus and
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Front page, forword and index Page of 251 Front page, forword and index
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