Schickard, Wilhelm

Schickard, Wilhelm a learned German Orientalist and distinguished astronomer, was born at Herrenberg, near Tübingen, April 22, 1592. When he had finished his theological course, he was for a while vicar in his native town, but in 1613 returned to Tübingen, and there gave lessons in Hebrew. In 1616 he was pastor at Nürtingen, continuing his studies in various languages. An acquaintance which sprang up between him and Kepler led to his turning his attention to mathematics, to which he afterwards gave much of his time. To occupy his spare moments, he learned the art of engraving upon wood, and made use of this acquirement in constructing a celestial globe and astronomical charts. In 1618 he became professor of Hebrew at Tübingen, and added to his knowledge of languages by studying Syriac, Arabic, Chaldee, Turkish, and Persian, all without any teacher or instruction save what he gained himself. In 1628 he was made member of the College of Arts, and in 1629 was elected inspector of the schools at Stuttgart. He occupied in 1631 the chair of astronomy at Tübingen, without giving up his Hebrew professorship. After the battle of Tübingen he retired to Austria, but returned later only to meet the plague, which bereft him of nearly his entire family, and finally terminated his own life, Oct. 23, 1635. His writings are numerous, all relating either to Oriental languages or astronomy. His most valuable work is Jus Regium Hebroeorum, or משפט המל, especially in the edition of Carpzov (Leips. 1674). See Vita Schickardi; Balth. Viassus, Apotheosis Schickardi; Fürst, Bibliotheca Judaica, 3, 270 sq.; Steinschneider, Bibliographisches Handbuch, p. 125 sq.; Catalogus Librorum Hebr. in Bibl. Bodleiana, p. 2565; R. Simon, Hist. Critique, p. 474; Diestel, Gesch. des alten Testaments, p. 322 sq., 334, 449, 501, 521; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Générale, s.v.