Marino Ghetaldi

Marin Getaldić
Born October 2, 1568
Dubrovnik, Republic of Ragusa (modern Croatia)
Died April 11, 1626 Dubrovnik, Republic of Ragusa (modern Croatia)
Dubrovnik, Republic of Ragusa
Occupation mathematician, physicist,

Marin Getaldić (Latin: Marinus Ghetaldus; Italian: Marino Ghetaldi;[1] 2 October 1568, Dubrovnik – 11 April 1626, Dubrovnik) was a scientist from the Republic of Ragusa. A mathematician and physicist who studied in Italy, England and Belgium, his best results are mainly in physics, especially optics, and mathematics. He was one of the few students of François Viète.

Biography

Marin was born to a noble family that had six children. By his family tradition it was said his family originated from Italy, Taranto, in the 8th century. Renowned for the application of algebra in geometry and his research in the field of geometrical optics on which, he wrote 7 works, including the Promotus Archimedus (1603) and the De resolutione et compositione mathematica (1630). He also produced a pamphlet with the solutions of 42 geometrical problems, Variorum problematum colletio, in 1607 and set grounds of algebraization of geometry. His contributions to geometry had been cited by Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens and Edmond Halley (Halley's comet) in England.

Ghetaldić was the constructor of the parabolic mirror (66 cm in diameter), kept today at the National Maritime Museum in London. During his sejourn in Padua he met Galileo Galilei, with whom he corresponded regularly. He was a good friend to the French mathematician François Viète. He was offered the post of professor of mathematics in Leuven in Belgium, at the time one of the most prestigious university centers in Europe.

Marin Getaldić.

He was also engaged in politics and was the envoy of the Republic of Ragusa in Constantinople in 1606 as well as the member of the Great and Small Council, the political bodies of the Republic. He was married to Marija Sorkočević Getaldić, who died giving birth to their third daughter; they had three daughters: Anica, Franica and Marija Getaldić.

Dubrovnik

Two notable localities in Dubrovnik are associated with the name of Getaldić: Bete's Cave, named after Marin's nickname, where he conducted experiments with igniting mirrors; and Pozvizd, a key strategic tower in the Ston fortification system which he was commissioned to build by the authorities of the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1604.

See also

References

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External links

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