Arthur Dee
Encyclopedia
Arthur Dee the eldest son of Dr John Dee
, was a physician and alchemist
.
He was the eldest son of John Dee
, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of Bartholomew Fromond of East Cheam, Surrey
, and was born at Mortlake
on 13 July 1579. He accompanied his father in travels through Germany
, Poland
, and Bohemia
. After his return to England he was placed at Westminster School
, 3 May 1592, under the tuition of Grant and Camden. Anthony Wood
was informed that he subsequently studied at Oxford, but he took no degree, and his college is unknown.
Settling in London with the intention of practising 'physic' (medicine) he exhibited at the door of his house a list of medicines which were said to be certain cures for many diseases. The censors of the College of Physicians
summoned him to appear before them; but it is not known with what outcome. Proceeding to Manchester, Dee married Isabella, daughter of Edward Prestwych, justice of the peace.
Through the recommendation of James I
he was appointed one of the physicians to the Tsar Michael I of Russia. He remained in Russia
for about fourteen years, principally at Moscow
. There he wrote his Fasciculus Chemicus
, a collection of writings on alchemy
.
Returning to England
upon the death of his wife in 1637, Dee became physician to King Charles I
. Upon his retirement Arthur Dee resided in Norwich
, where he became a friend of Sir Thomas Browne. Arthur Dee died in October 1651, in Norwich and was buried in the church of St. George, Tombland. He had seven sons and six daughters. Dee's relationship to Browne has been little explored, but on his death it was to Browne that the bulk of Arthur Dee's alchemical manuscripts and books were bequeathed.
John Dee (mathematician)
John Dee was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He devoted much of his life to the study of alchemy, divination and Hermetic philosophy....
, was a physician and alchemist
Alchemist
An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy. Alchemist may also refer to:-People and groups:*The Alchemist , a hip hop music producer and rapper*Alchemist , an Australian progressive metal band...
.
He was the eldest son of John Dee
John Dee
John Dee was a Welsh mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator, imperialist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I.John Dee may also refer to:* John Dee , Basketball coach...
, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of Bartholomew Fromond of East Cheam, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and was born at Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
on 13 July 1579. He accompanied his father in travels through Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. After his return to England he was placed at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, 3 May 1592, under the tuition of Grant and Camden. Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
was informed that he subsequently studied at Oxford, but he took no degree, and his college is unknown.
Settling in London with the intention of practising 'physic' (medicine) he exhibited at the door of his house a list of medicines which were said to be certain cures for many diseases. The censors of the College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
summoned him to appear before them; but it is not known with what outcome. Proceeding to Manchester, Dee married Isabella, daughter of Edward Prestwych, justice of the peace.
Through the recommendation of James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
he was appointed one of the physicians to the Tsar Michael I of Russia. He remained in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for about fourteen years, principally at Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. There he wrote his Fasciculus Chemicus
Fasciculus Chemicus
Fasciculus Chemicus or Chymical Collections. Expressing the Ingress, Progress, and Egress, of the Secret Hermetick Science our of the choicest and most famous authors is an anthology of alchemical writings compiled by Arthur Dee in 1629 while resident in Moscow as chief physician to Czar Mikhail...
, a collection of writings on alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
.
Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
upon the death of his wife in 1637, Dee became physician to King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. Upon his retirement Arthur Dee resided in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, where he became a friend of Sir Thomas Browne. Arthur Dee died in October 1651, in Norwich and was buried in the church of St. George, Tombland. He had seven sons and six daughters. Dee's relationship to Browne has been little explored, but on his death it was to Browne that the bulk of Arthur Dee's alchemical manuscripts and books were bequeathed.