Hieronymus Bock
Encyclopedia
Hieronymus Bock (1498 – February 21, 1554) was a German botanist
, physician
, and Lutheran minister who began the transition from medieval botany to the modern scientific worldview by arranging plants by their relation or resemblance.
. He married an Eva Victor in 1523, and was schoolteacher and caretaker of the grounds of the count palatine
in Zweibrücken
for nine years. In 1532 he became the prince's physician and later received a life-time position as a Lutheran minister in a nearby town (Hornbach
) where he stayed up to his death in 1554.
The first edition of his Kreutterbuch (literally "plant book") appeared in 1539 unillustrated; his stated objectives were to describe German plants, including their names, characteristics, and medical uses. Instead of following Dioscorides as was traditional, he developed his own system to classify 700 plants. Bock apparently traveled widely through the German region observing the plants for himself, since he includes ecological and distributional observations.
His 1546 Kreutterbuch or "herbal
" was illustrated by the artist David Kandel
. In the wine world, Bock is noted for having the first documented use of the modern word Riesling
in 1552 when it was mentioned in his Latin herbal.
The grass genus Tragus
and spurge genus Tragia
are both named after him.
Hieronymus Bock was also an entomologist.
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, and Lutheran minister who began the transition from medieval botany to the modern scientific worldview by arranging plants by their relation or resemblance.
Life
The details of his life are sketchy, in particular his educational background is unknown. In 1519 he inscribed at the university of HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. He married an Eva Victor in 1523, and was schoolteacher and caretaker of the grounds of the count palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
in Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Schwarzbach river.- Name :Zweibrücken appears in Latin texts as Geminus Pons and Bipontum, in French texts as Deux-Ponts. The name derives from Middle High German Zweinbrücken...
for nine years. In 1532 he became the prince's physician and later received a life-time position as a Lutheran minister in a nearby town (Hornbach
Hornbach
Hornbach is a municipality in the Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated southwest of the Palatinate forest, on the border with France, south of Zweibrücken. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Zweibrücken-Land.The monastery was the most likely reason for the...
) where he stayed up to his death in 1554.
The first edition of his Kreutterbuch (literally "plant book") appeared in 1539 unillustrated; his stated objectives were to describe German plants, including their names, characteristics, and medical uses. Instead of following Dioscorides as was traditional, he developed his own system to classify 700 plants. Bock apparently traveled widely through the German region observing the plants for himself, since he includes ecological and distributional observations.
His 1546 Kreutterbuch or "herbal
Herbal
AThe use of a or an depends on whether or not herbal is pronounced with a silent h. herbal is "a collection of descriptions of plants put together for medicinal purposes." Expressed more elaborately — it is a book containing the names and descriptions of plants, usually with information on their...
" was illustrated by the artist David Kandel
David Kandel
David Kandel was a Renaissance artist.One of the best qualities of the Renaissance Period was its everlasting concern with the elements of the natural world. David Kandel was one of the best known pioneers of botanical art and science...
. In the wine world, Bock is noted for having the first documented use of the modern word Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
in 1552 when it was mentioned in his Latin herbal.
The grass genus Tragus
Tragus (genus)
Tragus, commonly called burr grass or carrot-seed grass, is a genus in the grass family, Poaceae. Plants are monoecious, stoloniferous, and either annual or perennial depending on the species. The genus is primarily native to Africa, but has been introduced in subtropical and tropical areas around...
and spurge genus Tragia
Tragia
Tragia is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It comprises about one hundred species found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Plants in this genus are sometimes known as noseburns....
are both named after him.
Hieronymus Bock was also an entomologist.