| Authorised form of name | Digby; Sir; Kenelm (1603 - 1665); natural philosopher and courtier |
| Other forms of name | Kenelme |
| Dates | 1603 - 1665 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | Gayhurst, Buckinghamshire, England, Europe |
| Date of birth | 11 July 1603 |
| Place of death | Covent Garden, London, England, Europe |
| Date of death | 11 June 1665 |
| Dates and places | Burial:
Christ Church, Newgate Street, London, England, Europe |
| Occupation | Author; Diplomat; Sailor |
| Research field | Natural philosophy |
| Chemistry |
| Activity | Education:
Gloucester Hall, Oxford (1618); Gray's Inn (1619); Peterhouse, Cambridge; MA (on the King's visit 1624)
Career:
Sailed to Spain with his relative, Sir John Digby (1617-1618); travelled in France, Italy and Spain (1620-1623); gave three addresses to the 'Accademia dei Filomati' in Siena; became gentleman of the privy chamber to Prince Charles (1623); commissioner of the 'Eage' and the 'George and Elizabeth'; appointed Junior Principal Officer of the Navy (1630); studied chemistry and became involved in alchemy (1633-1635); arrested by Parliament (7 August 1642; 12 November 1642-30 Julu 1643); wrote his treatises 'Two treatises, in the one of which the nature of bodies, in the other the nature of man's soul is looked into: in way of discovery of the immortality of reasonable souls' (1642-1643); banished to France (1643-1654); permitted to return to England (January 1654) and received a pension; published translation of 'Of Adhering to God' (1654); confidant and ambassador of Cromwell (1655-1658); Chancellor to Queen Henrietta
Honours:
Kt 28 October 1623 |
| Membership category | Original Fellow |
| Date of election | 22/04/1663 |
| Royal Society activity | Royal Society roles:
Sworn in 3 June 1663.
Committee and panels:
Chemistry Committee |
| Other Royal Society activity | Presented findings on plants and animals (1661). Brought in stones, called octulus mundi (1661) |
| Relationships | Parents: Sir Everard Digby (c.1578-1606) and Mary Mulsho of Gayhurst, Buckinghamshire
Siblings: Sir John Digby (1605-1645)
Married: Venetia Stanley of Tonge Castle, Shropshire
Children: Kenelm Digby (1625-1648), John Digby, George Digby (d.1648) |
| Published works | RCN: 36943
RCN: 36946
RCN: 22891
RCN: 52884 |
| General context | Digby converted to and reconverted from Anglicanism during his life time and was unsuccessful in petitioning the goverment to rescind the penal laws against Roman Catholics and for toleration for Catholics. His father was executed for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot when Digby was three years old. His work and experimentation on animal embryos upheld Aristotelian ideas on epigenesis and there is an idea amongst medical historians that Digby can be called 'the father of modern embryology' and is 'ranked highly' amongst 17th century biologists. His work consolidated his reputation as a natural philosopher. |
| Related images | Discover a selection of related images in our picture library |
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| Sources | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Venn
References:
Jacqueline A Stedall, 'Catching Proteus: the collaborations of Wallis and Brouncker. II. Number problems' in NR 2000 vol 54 pp 317-331
Peter Brimblecombe, 'Interest in Air Pollution Among Early Fellows of the Royal Society' in NR 1977-8 vol 32 pp 123-129
John F Fulton, 'Sir Kenelm Digby, FRS (1603-1665)' in NR 1960 vol 15 pp 199-210, plate
G H Turnbull, 'Samuel Hartlib's Influence on the Early History of the Royal Society' in NR 1953 vol 10 pp 101-130
H W Robinson, 'Gleanings from the Library - I. A Note on the Early Minutes' in NR 1938 vol 1 pp 92-95
J Gribbin, 'The Fellowship', 2005, pp174-180
Notes:
The election date is Digby's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously elected on 12 December 1660.
Aubrey (quoting Jonson) gives his date of birth as 11 June |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/49357645 |
| Royal Society code | NA8202 |
| Reference number | Title | Date |
| IM/001151 | Digby, Sir Kenelm | nd |
| LBO/1/4 | Copy Letter from Frenicle, Paris, to Kenelme Digby | 31 August 1661 |
| MS/10 | Le grand oevre des philosophes: alchemical tracts by Phillipe Rouillach and others | 17th century |
| EL/B1/103 | Extract of a letter, from Olaus Borrichius to Kenelm Digby, dated at Paris | 19 January 1663 |
| EL/F1/1 | Letter, from [Bernard] Frenicle to Kenelm Digby | August 1661 |
| EL/T/8 | Letter, from Francisco Travagino to Kenelm Digby, dated at Venice | 1666 |
| EL/F1/2 | Translation of a letter, from [Bernard] Frenicle to Kenelm Digby | 1661 |