| Authorised form of name | Marsigli; Luigi Ferdinand (1658 - 1730); scholar, soldier, and natural philosopher |
| Other forms of name | Luigi Ferdinando |
| Other forms of surname | Marsill |
| Marsili |
| Dates | 1658 - 1730 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Place of birth | Papal state of Bologna, [modern day Italy], Europe |
| Date of birth | 10 July 1658 |
| Place of death | Papal state of Bologna, [modern day Italy], Europe |
| Date of death | 1 November 1730 |
| Occupation | Author; soldier |
| Research field | Natural history |
| Geography |
| Activity | Education:
Pupil of Marcello Malpighi (FRS 1669) at Bologna
Career:
Travelled to Constantinople (1678), where he collected natural history specimens and information about the Ottoman Army; served in the Army of Emperor Leopold I (1682-1704); wounded and captured by Tartars (1682) he witnessed the siege of Vienna as a slave and was rescued (1684); patient of Giacopo Grande (FRS 1690) and Malpighi; Director of the siege works at Buda; Colonel (1690); represented the Emperor in Constantinople at the negotiations for the frontier of Dalmatia; brought back to Vienna a large collection of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew manuscripts; General in the War of the Spanish Succession; accused of cowardice; travelled to Switzerland, Paris and Marseille, where he settled; Commander of the Papal Army (1709); gave his collections of scientific instruments, maps and natural history specimens to the University of Bologna, where they became the foundation of the Istituto delle Scienze e Belle Arti; travelled to England and Holland; on his return to Bologna, founded a printing press with a stock of non-Latin type; climbed Monte Cimone, the highest peak of the northern Appenines (1719)
Memberships:
Foreign Member, Academie Royale des Sciences; Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna (1712, Founder) |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 25/11/1691 |
| Age at election | 33 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Proposed on the same day as his election;
Correspondent on his natural history and geographical observations |
| Relationships | Parents: Count Carlo Marsigli and Margherita Ercolani
Siblings: Antonio Felice Marsigli |
| PublishedWorks | RCN: R70737
RCN: 54599
RCN: 29133 |
| OtherInfo | Marsigli's interest in natural history was reportedly inspired by a visit to the University of Padua's vegetable garden in 1673. His observations from his travels to the Bosphorus and Constantinople (Istanbul) were communicated to the Swedish Queen Christina is now considered one of his most important early works. Here, he reported on the salt water in the Black Sea. Following his time as prisoner of war of the Turkish forces during the siege of Vienna, he published a work on the use of coffee beans. During this time, he also became increasingly interested in the physics and chemistry of metals, gunpowder, and weapons. After his death, he bequeathed his substantial library and collection of instruments, minerals, and antiquities to the city of Bologna. He is also remembered for his support of the Specola Observatory in Bologna. |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DSB; IBI; Adelmann; Fantuzzi
Authority:
First two Altname from Hunter, last from DSB.
References:
Cavazza, M. 1980. 'Bologna and the Royal Society in the Seventeenth Century', in Notes and Records, vol. 35, pp. 105-123
Cavazza, M. 2002. 'The Institute of Science of Bologna and the Royal Society in the eighteenth century', in Notes and Records, vol. 56, pp. 3-25
Hall, M B. 1982-83. 'The Royal Society and Italy 1667-1795', in Notes and Records, vol. 37, pp. 63-81
McConnell, A. 1986-87. 'L F Marsigli's Voyage to London and Holland, 1721-1722', in Notes and Records, vol. 41, pp. 39-76
McConnell, A. 1993. 'L F Marsigli's Visit to London in 1721, and his Report on the Royal Society', in Notes and Records, vol. 47, pp. 179-204
McConnell, A. 1997. ''The Danube Displayed', review of John Stoye, Marsigli's Europe 1680-1730, the Life and Times of Luigi Ferdinanto Marsigli, Soldier and Virtuoso', in Notes and Records, vol. 51, pp. 142-144Notes:
DSB gives birth date as 20 July 1658, IBI has 10 July. Index to BR gives election date as '1692 ?'. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/27075563 |
| Code | NA8258 |