Record

Authorised form of nameBecker; Balthasar (1634–1698); clergyman and theologian
Other forms of surnameBekker
Dates1634–1698
NationalityDutch
Place of birthMetslawier, Noardeast-Fryslân, Friesland, Netherlands, Europe
Date of birth30 March 1634
Place of deathAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, Europe
Date of death11 June 1698
OccupationDutch Calvinist clergyman and theologian
ActivityEducation: 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 categoryFellow
Date of election06/07/1698
ProposerSir Hans Sloane
RelationshipsParents: Hericus Bekker
OtherInfoDsiciple 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.
Image

Becker B, IM000311.jpg

SourceSources:
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 Filehttp://viaf.org/viaf/34592037
CodeNA7374
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
IM/000311Becker, Balthasarnd
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