Wormius, Olaus

, a learned physician of Denmark, was born May 13, 1588, at Arhusen, a city of Jutland, where his father was a burgomaster of an ancient family. He began his studies in his native place; but was sent, when very young, to the college of Lunenburg; and thence to Emmeric, in the duchy of Cleves. Having spent four years at these places, he was removed to Marpurg in 1605; and two years after to Strasburg, where he applied himself to physic, to which profession he had now given the preference, and going to Basil studied some time with advantage under Platerus and others. In 1608, he went to Italy, and | during a residence of some months at Padua, his uncommon parts and learning procured him singular honours. He visited other cities of Italy, and passed thence into France, remaining three months at Sienna, and four at Montpelier; after which his design was, to make along abode at Paris; but the assassination of Henry IV. in 1610, about two months after his arrival, obliging him as well as other strangers to retire from that city, he went to Holland, and thence to Denmark. He had not yet visited the university of Copenhagen, so that his first care was to repair thither, and to be admitted a member of it. ‘He was earnestly entreated to continue there; but his passion for travelling was not yet satiated, and he resolved to see England first. The chemical experiments that were then carrying on at Marpurg made a great noise; and he went thither in 1611, with a view of perfecting himself in a science of great importance to a physician. Thence he journeyed to Basil, where he took the degree of doctor in physic; and from Basil to London, in which city he resided a year and a half. His friends grew now impatient to have him at home, where he arrived in 1613: and was scarcely settled, when he was made professor of the belles-lettres in the university of Copenhagen. In 1615, he was translated to the chair of the Greek professor; and, in 1624-, to the professorship of physic, in the room of Caspar Bartholin, which he held to his death. These occupations did not hinder him from practising in his profession, and from being the fashionable physician. ’The king and, court of Denmark always employed him; and Christian IV. as a recompence for his services, conferred on him the canonry of Lunden. He died Aug. 31, 1654, aged sixty-six.

Wormius had three wives, who brought him a family of sixteen children. He published some works on subjects relating to his profession, several in defence, of Aristotle’s philosophy, and several concerning the antiquities of Denmark and Norway. For these last he is principally remembered now, and they are esteemed very learned and correct; particularly his, I. “Fasti Danici,” 1626. 2. “A History of Norway,” 1633, 4to. 3. “Litteratnira Danica antiquissima, vulgo Gothica dicta, & de prisca Danorura Poesi,” 1636, 4to. 4. “Monumentorum Danicorurn libri VI.” 1643, folio. 5. “Lexicon Runicum, & Appendix ad Monumenta Danica,” 1650, folio. 6. “Series Regum | Danise duplex, & limitum inter Daniam & Sueciam Descriptio,” 1642, folio. 7. “Talshoi, seu Monumentuni Stroense in Scania,” 1528, 4to. 8. “Monumentum Trygvvaldense,” 1636, 4to. All printed at Hafnia, or Copenhagen. ¹