Jodocus Crull
Encyclopedia
Jodocus Crull, M.D., FRS (1660–1713) was a late 17th-century and early 18th-century "miscellaneous writer" of historical subjects with political and sociological insights. Though his life remains somewhat of a mystery, his works are still consulted by academic and popular history writers today.
, then a free state
of the Germanic Confederation, of a family part of that city's patriciate. He applied himself to medicine at Holland's Leiden University
. The M.D. was attained in 1679 with Crull's inaugural essay: Disputatio medice-chymica exhibens medicamenti veterum universalis, recentiorumque paticularium verum in medicina usum, etc.
of the Royal Society
on November 23, 1681 and admitted on November 30; and later admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
on December 22, 1692.
Crull's life remains rather ambiguous for some accounts speculate that he subsisted mainly by doing translations and compilations for booksellers while seeming to have met with little success in his profession since there are a number of omissions of his name on the annual list of the Fellows of the Royal Society which, according to the author (Gordon Goodwin) of the Crull entry in the 1917 D.N.B., suggest an inability to pay. Other accounts imply the likelihood that Crull may have been a dilettante and eccentric who had the means to follow his interests and who may not have paid his fees to the Royal Society
with regularity since he may not have attached a great significance to being listed yearly. Where he practised medicine could have been in London or its environs for he settled in London but resided outside of the city because of "country" being appended to his name on the lists.
The fact that Crull could entreat Sir Hans Sloane
's vote at the coming election of a navy physician or interact with Sir Issac Newton and other luminaries of his age shows that he was comfortable with himself; and that the latter view of him runs counter to Goodwin's portrayal of him in the D.N.B., an entry which also neglects to mention that Crull received the M.D. from King's College
in the University of Cambridge
in 1681.
Other writings include:
Early Life and Education
Crull was born in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, then a free state
Free state
Free state may refer to:* Free state , a loosely defined term used by various states at different times and places to describe themselves...
of the Germanic Confederation, of a family part of that city's patriciate. He applied himself to medicine at Holland's Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. The M.D. was attained in 1679 with Crull's inaugural essay: Disputatio medice-chymica exhibens medicamenti veterum universalis, recentiorumque paticularium verum in medicina usum, etc.
Life in England
Subsequently Crull settled in England although he may have been a public school student there before he matriculated at Leiden. He was created M.D. of Cambridge by royal mandate on August 7, 1681; elected a fellowFellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
on November 23, 1681 and admitted on November 30; and later admitted a licentiate of the Royal 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...
on December 22, 1692.
Crull's life remains rather ambiguous for some accounts speculate that he subsisted mainly by doing translations and compilations for booksellers while seeming to have met with little success in his profession since there are a number of omissions of his name on the annual list of the Fellows of the Royal Society which, according to the author (Gordon Goodwin) of the Crull entry in the 1917 D.N.B., suggest an inability to pay. Other accounts imply the likelihood that Crull may have been a dilettante and eccentric who had the means to follow his interests and who may not have paid his fees to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
with regularity since he may not have attached a great significance to being listed yearly. Where he practised medicine could have been in London or its environs for he settled in London but resided outside of the city because of "country" being appended to his name on the lists.
The fact that Crull could entreat Sir Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane, 1st Baronet, PRS was an Ulster-Scot physician and collector, notable for bequeathing his collection to the British nation which became the foundation of the British Museum...
's vote at the coming election of a navy physician or interact with Sir Issac Newton and other luminaries of his age shows that he was comfortable with himself; and that the latter view of him runs counter to Goodwin's portrayal of him in the D.N.B., an entry which also neglects to mention that Crull received the M.D. from King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1681.
Works
Crull's works were published either anonymously or with his initials only. His principal translations are:- Baron von Pufendorf's Of the Nature and Qualification of Religion, in reference to civil society;
- Pufendorf's An Introduction to the History of the Principal Kingdoms and States of Europe;
- Gabriel Dellon's A Vovage to the East Indies, etc.;
- Father J. BouvetJoachim BouvetJoachim Bouvet was a French Jesuit who worked in China, and the leading member of the Figurist movement.-Biography:...
's The Present Condition of the Muscovite Empire,...in two letters,...with the Life of the present Emperour of China.
Other writings include:
- A Compleat History of the Affairs of Spain;
- Memoirs of Denmark;
- The Antiquities of St. Peters, or the Abbey Church of Westminster;
- The History of the Jews since the Destruction of Jerusalem: being a continuation of Josephus;
- The Antient and Present State of Muscovy.