![]() ![]() Certainly Wilhelm was aware that Bürgi was the most skilful instrument maker of his day for he employed him from 1579. ![]() The Landgraf of Hesse-Kassel at this time was Wilhelm IV, an excellent mathematician and astronomer, who had maintained connections with Strasbourg where he had undergone his scientific training. Although Bürgi never learnt Latin (the language of science at this time ), he was very knowledgeable in mathematics and astronomy with skills compatible with having been immersed in the scientific circle in Strasbourg, but certainly not as part of a university course. The Swiss mathematician Konrad Dasypodius, who was the professor of mathematics at the University of Strasbourg, had designed the astronomical clock and is likely that Bürgi acquired his expertise in mathematics from Dasypodius or his pupils. ![]() We are able to say with more certainty that he was in Strasbourg for some time during 1570- 74 when Josia and Isaac Habrecht were building an astronomical clock for Strasbourg cathedral. The leading cities for watchmaking skills at this time were Nuremberg, Augsburg and Cremona so, given the high level of his craftsmanship, one can guess that he must have worked in one or more of these towns. It is clear from the skills that he acquired over the floowing few years, that Bürgi must have served an apprenticeship to a blacksmith, instrument maker and watchmaker but no knowledge exists of the towns in which he served his apprenticeship. Before leaving he had acquired a knowledge of reading and numeracy at elementary school but had not had the opportunity to progress beyond this basic stage. It is conjectured that Jost Bürgi decided to leave Lichtensteig, partly because of the religious divide and partly because of the lack of educational opportunities in the small town. The Bürgi family was Protestant in a village which was equally divided between Protestants and Roman Catholics. His grandfather, Lienhard Bürgi, was a locksmith and a leading official of the village which had been divided by the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Lichtensteig, a small village of around 400 inhabitants at this time. Biography Jost Bürgi's first name is sometime written as Joost, Jobst or Justus while his second name is sometime written in a Latin form Byrgius. ![]()
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