| Authorised form of name | Baldwin; Christian Adolphus (1632 - 1682); writer |
| Other forms of name | Christian Adolf |
| Christopher Adolphus |
| Other forms of surname | Balduin |
| Baldewein |
| Dates | 1632 - 1682 |
| Nationality | German |
| Place of birth | Döbeln, Saxony [modern day Germany], Europe |
| Date of birth | 29 June 1632 |
| Place of death | Grossenhayn [Großenhain], Saxony [modern day Germany], Europe |
| Date of death | 1682 |
| Occupation | Virtuoso; Writer |
| Research field | Chemistry |
| Activity | Education:
Leipzig; Wittenberg; Altdorf
Career:
Worked as a writer in Regensburg; moved to Dobeln (1654); and to Grossenhayn (1673); Official of the Elector of Saxony
Memberships:
Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 08/02/1677 |
| Age at election | 44 |
| Other Royal Society activity | Had an extract of a letter published in the 'Philosophical Transactions' on luminescent materials (1677);
Correspondent to Henry Oldenburg, in particular regarding phosphor |
| Relationships | Parents: Balthasar Balduin |
| OtherInfo | As a writer, Baldwin published chemical and alchemical works, e.g. 'Aurum Aurae (1674) as well as religious songs, which were published in 1703 in the hymnal 'Schönburgisches Gesangbuch'. Baldwin's interest in alchemy and chemistry led to the discovery of what was thought to be phosphor but we now know as calcium nitrate. It was described and published under 'Phosphorus Hermeticus' and was infuenced by Robert Boyle's (FRS 1660) experiments with Clayton's luminescent diamond amongst other discussions. Generally, however, Baldwin and Boyle's studies of phosphors are seen as quite separate and Baldwin's theories were barely discussed. |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; Hunter; DBE
Keller, V. 2014. 'Hermetic Atomism: Christian Adolph Balduin (1632-1682), Aurum Aurae, and the 1674 Phosphor', in Ambix, Vol. 61(4), pp. 366-384
Notes:
Possible death date of 1680. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/56646427 |
| Code | NA5624 |