Johann Moriaen
Encyclopedia
Johann Moriaen was a German alchemist
and early chemist
, known as an associate of Samuel Hartlib
. He was active in recruiting for Hartlib's network of intellectuals, the Hartlib Circle
, and communicating with them. He was a convinced pansophist.
With no published works, his activities have been uncovered by recent scholarship. He operated from Amsterdam
.
He matriculated at Heidelberg University in 1611, where he knew Georg Vechner, later an associate of Comenius
. He then became a Calvinist minister. He moved to Cologne
, where he perhaps met Theodore Haak
who was there in 1626. He gave up the ministry and returned to his native Nuremberg in 1627, then full of refugees from the Thirty Years War.
He met Isaac Beeckman
in Dordrecht
in 1633. He at this time was involved in practical aspects of optics
and Paracelsian chemistry and medicine. He moved permanently to the Netherlands five years later.
His Dutch connections included the Hebraist Adam Boreel
, and businessman Louis de Geer
, a supporter of Comenius. His correspondents included George Starkey.
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...
and early chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, known as an associate of Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib
Samuel Hartlib was a German-British polymath. An active promoter and expert writer in many fields, he was interested in science, medicine, agriculture, politics, and education. He settled in England, where he married and died...
. He was active in recruiting for Hartlib's network of intellectuals, the Hartlib Circle
Hartlib Circle
The Hartlib Circle refers primarily to the correspondence network set up in Western and Central Europe by Samuel Hartlib, an intelligencer based in London, and his associates, in the period 1630 to 1660.-Structure:J. T. Young writes:...
, and communicating with them. He was a convinced pansophist.
With no published works, his activities have been uncovered by recent scholarship. He operated from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
He matriculated at Heidelberg University in 1611, where he knew Georg Vechner, later an associate of Comenius
Comenius
John Amos Comenius ; ; Latinized: Iohannes Amos Comenius) was a Czech teacher, educator, and writer. He served as the last bishop of Unity of the Brethren, and became a religious refugee and one of the earliest champions of universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica...
. He then became a Calvinist minister. He moved to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, where he perhaps met Theodore Haak
Theodore Haak
Theodore Haak was a German Calvinist scholar, resident in England in later life. Haak’s communications abilities and interests in the new science provided the backdrop for convening the “1645 Group,” a precursor of the Royal Society.Although not himself known as a natural philosopher, Haak's...
who was there in 1626. He gave up the ministry and returned to his native Nuremberg in 1627, then full of refugees from the Thirty Years War.
He met Isaac Beeckman
Isaac Beeckman
Isaac Beeckman was a Dutch philosopher and scientist, who, through his studies and contact with leading natural philosophers, may have "virtually given birth to modern atomism".-Biography:...
in Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
in 1633. He at this time was involved in practical aspects of optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
and Paracelsian chemistry and medicine. He moved permanently to the Netherlands five years later.
His Dutch connections included the Hebraist Adam Boreel
Adam Boreel
Adam Boreel was a Dutch theologian and Hebrew scholar. He was one of the founders of the Amsterdam College; the Collegiants were also often called Boreelists, and regarded as a small sect...
, and businessman Louis de Geer
Louis De Geer (1587-1652)
Louis De Geer was a Walloon/Dutch merchant and industrialist. He is considered the father of Swedish industry for introducing Walloon blast furnaces in Sweden...
, a supporter of Comenius. His correspondents included George Starkey.