| Authorised form of name | Sorbiere; Samuel (1615 - 1670); physician and author |
| Other forms of name | Samuel de |
| Dates | 1615 - 1670 |
| Nationality | French |
| Place of birth | Saint Ambroix, Languedoc, France, Europe |
| Date of birth | 17 September 1615 |
| Place of death | Paris, France, Europe |
| Date of death | 9 April 1670 |
| Occupation | Clergyman, Roman Catholic; Physician |
| Activity | Education:
Educated by his uncle, Samuel Petit; Paris; MD
Career:
Practised in Holland (until 1650); published French translation of Thomas More's 'Utopia' (1643), of Thomas Hobbes' 'De Cive' (1649), and of Hobbes' 'De Corpore Politico, or the Elements of Law' (1652); Director of the College d'Orange; raised as a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism (1653) and became a priest; travelled to Rome (1655 and 1667); Historiographer to Louis XIV (1660); held a number of minor benefices
Memberships:
Montmor Academy (1650s; founding member)
|
| Membership category | Original Fellow |
| Date of election | 22/06/1663 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Contributed to observations and experiments (1663) |
| PublishedWorks | RCN: R64167
RCN: R64168
RCN: R64169 |
| OtherInfo | Sorbiere played an instrumental part in the correspondence on natural philosophy in the 17th century and he was in regular contact with figures such as Marin Mersenne. He promoted the physical and philosophical work of Thomas Hobbes and Pierre Gassendi through aid in publication and translation. His own most notable work is his 'Relation d'un voyage en Angleterre' (1664) regarding his stay in England in 1663, when was also admitted to the Royal Society. His perceived criticism of English society and culture led to somewhat of an international scandal as well as Thomas Sprat's (FRS 1663) responding 'Observations upon Monsieur de Sorbier's Voyage into England' (1665). Sorbiere was held under arrest in France for four months and Charles II did not allow the Society to send any more responses. His membership in the Society was also questioned by Council in 1666. |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; NBG
References:
Balz, A G A. 1930. 'Samuel Sorbière (1615-1670)', in The Philosophical Review, vol. 39(6), pp. 573-586
Faure-Fremiet, E. 1966. 'Les Origines de l'Academie des Sciences de Paris', in Notes and Records, vol. 21, pp. 20-31
Sarasohn, L T. 2004. 'Who was then the gentleman?: Samuel Sorbière, Thomas Hobbes, and the Royal Society', in History of Science, vol. 42, pp. 211-232
Notes:
The election date is Sorbiere's election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/46767474 |
| Code | NA5681 |
Archives associated with this Fellow
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| EL/S1/10 | Letter, from Samuel Sorbiere to Caesari | 1664 |
| LBO/1/46 | Copy letter from Samuel Sorbiere, Paris, to Henry Oldenburg | 15 December 1663 |
| EL/S1/11 | Letter, from Samuel Sorbiere to the Royal Society, dated at Paris | 1665 |
| EL/S1/7 | Letter, from Samuel Sorbiere to Robert Moray, dated at Paris | 1661 |
| EL/S1/8 | Letter, from Samuel Sorbiere to Robert Moray, dated at Paris | 15 December 1663 |
| EL/S1/9 | Letter, from Samuel Sorbiere to Henry Oldenburg, dated at Paris | 15 December 1663 |
| EL/O1/6 | Letter, from Henry Oldenburg to Samuel Sorbiere | 15 December 1663 |