Aloysius Lilius

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Aloysius Lilius (Luigi Lilio or Giglio, circa 1510 – 1576) was an Italian doctor, philosopher and chronologist.

Very little is known about his early life. It is known that he came from Calabria, either from Cirò or Zirò. He studied medicine in Naples, after which he served Earl Carafa. He lectured in medicine at the University of Perugia from 1552.

He is primarily known as the creator of the Gregorian Calendar after writing a manuscript titled Compendiuem novae rationis restituendi kalendarium (Compendium of the New Plan for the Restitution of the Calendar). However, the reform to the calendar did not occur until after his death, when his brother Antonio presented the manuscript to Pope Gregory XIII. The manuscript was then given to the reform commission, and was adopted in 1582, after some modification by Christopher Clavius.

Lilius crater on the Moon is named for him. In computer science, Lilian date is the number of days since 14 October 1582.

[edit] References

Moyer, G. (1982 Nov). "Luigi Lilio and the Gregorian reform of the calendar". Sky and Telescope 64 (11): 418–9.

Bond, J.J. (1966). Handy Book of Rules and Tables for Verifying Dates within the Christian Era. Russell & Russell, a Division of Atheneum House Inc.

Encyclopedia Britannica: 602. (1980). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.