Homepage

Record

Authorised form of nameBullialdus; Ismael (1605 - 1694); astronomer and mathematician
Other forms of surnameBoulliau
Dates1605 - 1694
NationalityFrench
Place of birthLoudun, France, Europe
Date of birth28 September 1605
Place of deathAbbaye St-Victor, Paris, France, Europe
Date of death25 November 1694
OccupationClergyman, Roman Catholic; Diplomat
Research fieldMathematics
Astronomy
ActivityEducation:
Loudun; Poitiers; Paris
Career:
Travelled in Italy, Germany, Poland and to the Levant, as ambassador of King Casimir; converted to Roman Catholicism (1626); worked as a librarian with the brothers Dupuy at the Bibliothque du roi (1632-1662); secretary to the French ambassador of Holland (1662-1666); librarian at Collge de Laon (1666); published multiple works on astronomy
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election04/04/1667
Age at election66
ProposerHenry Oldenburg
Other Royal Society activityActed as an occasional correspondent, in particular on astronomical observations and tables (1670s)
RelationshipsParents: Ismael Boulliau and Susanna Motet
PublishedWorksRCN: 30853
RCN: 31934
RCN: R64842
RCN: 30854
RCN: 30855
RCN: 30856
RCN: 30857
RCN: 30858
OtherInfoBullialdus was considered one of the most noted astronomers of his generation and enjoyed lifelong friendships with Pierre Gassendi, Marin Mersenne, and maintained correspondence with Johannes Hevelius (FRS 1664), Henry Oldenburg (FRS 1663), and Christian Huygens (FRS 1663). He was heavily involved in the correspondence network 'Republic of Letters', many letters of which survive at the National Library in France. His most important work is considered to be 'Astronomia philolaica' (1645) on planetary systems. Although he enjoyed a good reputation as an astronomer, his theories, including one of a new cosmology which went against Kepler's theories, were critiqued by some fellow astronomers.
Related imagesDiscover a selection of related images in our picture library
Image

Bouillaud I, IM006226.jpg

SourceSources:
Bulloch's Roll; DSB; Biographie Universelle; Hunter; Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers
References:
Da Costa Andrade, E N. 1963. 'Samuel Pepys and the Royal Society', in Notes and Records, vol. 18, pp. 82-93
Virtual International Authority Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/29630623
CodeNA5773
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
RBO/4/37'Mons Bullialdus his Calculation of the places of the Sun and Moon on April 22 1671 from the Philolaick Tables'1671
RBO/4/36'Mons Bullialdus's Calculation of the Lunar Eclipse of September 18 1671 from the Philolaic Tables'1671
LBO/2/8Copy letter from Ismail Bullialdus to Henry Oldenburg16 May 1667
LBO/2/5Copy letter from Henry Oldenburg to Ismail Bullialdus 22 April 1667
LBO/2/9Copy letter of Ismael Bullialdus to the Royal Society16 May 1667
LBO/7/99Copy letter from Henry Oldenburg, London, to Ismail Bullialdus 18 February 1675
CLP/4i/18/1Manuscript, concerning an astronomical observation on 4 March [c17th Century]
CLP/8i/27/1Manuscript, computation of the Sun and Moon from the Philolaick tables by Ismael Bullialdus1671
CLP/8i/27/2Diagram and philolaic tables by Ismael Bullialdus1671
CLP/4i/18Paper, concerning an astronomical observation on 4 March [1661-1670]
CLP/8i/27Paper, computation of the Sun and Moon from the Philolaick tables by Ismael Bullialdus1671
CLP/8i/17Paper, 'Ismaelis Bullialdi observationes factae anno 1667 circa nebulosam in cingulo andromedae, et stellam mirabilem in collo ceti' [Observations of nebula in the constellation Andromeda and stars in the neck of the constellation Cetus seen in 1667] by Ismael Bulialdus1667
CLP/4i/18/2Drawing, Mira of Cetus[c17th Century]
Add to My Items
    Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions

    Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions

    Useful Links

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The mammals of Australia
    The mammals of Australia
    Classified Papers
    Classified Papers
    Referees’ Reports
    Referees’ Reports
    Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions
    Photographs of British algae: cyanotype impressions
    Browse Collections

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView