Agricola did not confine his interest entirely to medicine and mining,
for during this period he composed a pamphlet upon the Turks, urging their
extermination by the European powers. This work was no doubt inspired by
the Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529. It appeared first in German in 1531,
and in Latin—in which it was originally written—in 1538, and passed through
many subsequent editions.
for during this period he composed a pamphlet upon the Turks, urging their
extermination by the European powers. This work was no doubt inspired by
the Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529. It appeared first in German in 1531,
and in Latin—in which it was originally written—in 1538, and passed through
many subsequent editions.
At this time, too, he became interested in the God's Gift mine at
Albertham, which was discovered in 1530. Writing in 1545, he says6:
“We, as a shareholder, through the goodness of God, have enjoyed the
proceeds of this God's Gift since the very time when the mine began first
to bestow such riches.”
Albertham, which was discovered in 1530. Writing in 1545, he says6:
“We, as a shareholder, through the goodness of God, have enjoyed the
proceeds of this God's Gift since the very time when the mine began first
to bestow such riches.”
Agricola seems to have resigned his position at Joachimsthal in about
1530, and to have devoted the next two or three years to travel and study
among the mines. About 1533 he became city physician of Chemnitz, in
Saxony, and here he resided until his death in 1555. There is but little
record of his activities during the first eight or nine years of his residence in
this city. He must have been engaged upon the study of his subjects and
the preparation of his books, for they came on with great rapidity soon after.
He was frequently consulted on matters of mining engineering, as, for instance,
we learn, from a letter written by a certain Johannes Hordeborch7, that
Duke Henry of Brunswick applied to him with regard to the method for
working mines in the Upper Harz.
1530, and to have devoted the next two or three years to travel and study
among the mines. About 1533 he became city physician of Chemnitz, in
Saxony, and here he resided until his death in 1555. There is but little
record of his activities during the first eight or nine years of his residence in
this city. He must have been engaged upon the study of his subjects and
the preparation of his books, for they came on with great rapidity soon after.
He was frequently consulted on matters of mining engineering, as, for instance,
we learn, from a letter written by a certain Johannes Hordeborch7, that
Duke Henry of Brunswick applied to him with regard to the method for
working mines in the Upper Harz.
In 1543 he married Anna, widow of Matthias Meyner, a petty tithe
official; there is some reason to believe from a letter published by Schmid,8
that Anna was his second wife, and that he was married the first time at
Joachimsthal. He seems to have had several children, for he commends his
young children to the care of the Town Council during his absence at the
war in 1547. In addition to these, we know that a son, Theodor, was born
in 1550; a daughter, Anna, in 1552; another daughter, Irene, was buried at
Chemnitz in 1555; and in 1580 his widow and three children—Anna,
Valerius, and Lucretia—were still living.
official; there is some reason to believe from a letter published by Schmid,8
that Anna was his second wife, and that he was married the first time at
Joachimsthal. He seems to have had several children, for he commends his
young children to the care of the Town Council during his absence at the
war in 1547. In addition to these, we know that a son, Theodor, was born
in 1550; a daughter, Anna, in 1552; another daughter, Irene, was buried at
Chemnitz in 1555; and in 1580 his widow and three children—Anna,
Valerius, and Lucretia—were still living.
In 1544 began the publication of the series of books to which Agricola
owes his position. The first volume comprised five works and was finally
issued in 1546; it was subsequently considerably revised, and re-issued in 1558.
These works were: De Ortu et Causís Subterraneorum, in five “books,” the
first work on physical geology; De Natura Eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra, in
four “books,” on subterranean waters and gases; De Natura Fossílíum, in
ten “books,” the first systematic mineralogy; De Veteribus et Novís Metallís,
in two “books,” devoted largely to the history of metals and topographical
mineralogy; a new edition of Bermannus was included; and finally Rerum
Metallícarum Interpretatio, a glossary of Latin and German mineralogical
and metallurgical terms. Another work, De Animantíbus Subterraneis,
usually published with De Re Metallica, is dated 1548 in the preface. It
owes his position. The first volume comprised five works and was finally
issued in 1546; it was subsequently considerably revised, and re-issued in 1558.
These works were: De Ortu et Causís Subterraneorum, in five “books,” the
first work on physical geology; De Natura Eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra, in
four “books,” on subterranean waters and gases; De Natura Fossílíum, in
ten “books,” the first systematic mineralogy; De Veteribus et Novís Metallís,
in two “books,” devoted largely to the history of metals and topographical
mineralogy; a new edition of Bermannus was included; and finally Rerum
Metallícarum Interpretatio, a glossary of Latin and German mineralogical
and metallurgical terms. Another work, De Animantíbus Subterraneis,
usually published with De Re Metallica, is dated 1548 in the preface. It
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