| Authorised form of name | Becker; Balthasar (1634–1698); clergyman and theologian |
| Other forms of surname | Bekker |
| Dates | 1634–1698 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Place of birth | Metslawier, Noardeast-Fryslân, Friesland, Netherlands, Europe |
| Date of birth | 30 March 1634 |
| Place of death | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, Europe |
| Date of death | 11 June 1698 |
| Occupation | Clergyman, Dutch Calvinist; Theologian |
| Activity | Education: Groningen, under Jacob Alting; Doctorate in Theology (1665); University of Franeker (1666)
Career: Pastor in Oosterlittens (1657); Moved to Loenen (1674); moved to Weesp (1676); preacher in Amsterdam (1679); travelled to England and France (1683); publishes De Betoverde Weereld (1691-1693). |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 06/07/1698 |
| Proposer | Sir Hans Sloane |
| Relationships | Parents: Hericus Bekker |
| OtherInfo | Dsiciple of René Descartes, whose application of Cartesian metaphysics and disapproval of Biblical literlism put him at odds with the Dutch Reformed Church.
He became famous for his work De Betoverde Weereld (1691-1693), or The World Bewitched (1695), where he argued against the existence of ghosts, witches, and devils, railing against the idea of possession by the devil. Bekker became a key figure in the end of the witchcraft persecution in early modern Europe. He was interest in fortification and mathematics. |
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| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; Hunter; Jocher; Frank, G., "Bekker, Balthasar" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 2 (1875), pp. 299-300 [URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd119016915.html#adbcontent; last accessed 08 November 2023]; Early Modern Letters Online [URL: http://emlo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/profile/person/44c42ce8-8385-46c3-88b1-87e0e431817d?sort=score-d&everything=balthasar%20bekker&baseurl=/forms/quick&type=quick&numFound=438&start=0; last accessed 08/11/2023]
Notes:
Proposed by Sir Hans Sloane. Hunter gives a tentative identification, though he admits it is unlikely. Printed list (1698-1703) calls him 'Ds Balthazar Becker [Becher] MD', but JBC vol 9 p92 states that 'Dr Christopher Becker' was proposed 18 May 1698 by Sloane, JBC vol 9 p101 'Dr Becker' elected, CMC vol 2 pp132-3 'Dr Becker' approved 11 May 1698 and elected 6 July 1698
Hirsch has a Daniel Christoph Beckher or Becker (1658-1691), son and grandson of doctors, who travelled for several years through Germany France, Italy and England, was MD Utrecht (1684) and Professor of Medicine at Konigsberg (1686). It seems possible that this Christopher (or Balthasar) Becker was his son. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/34592037 |
| Code | NA7374 |
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