CLAVIUS (Christopher)

, a German Jesuit, was born at Bamberg in Germany, in 1537. He became a very studious mathematician, and elaborate writer; his works, when collected, and closely printed, making 5 large folio volumes; being a complete body or course of the mathematics. They are mostly elementary, and commentaries on Euclid and others; having very little of invention of his own. His talents and writings have been variously spoken of, and it must be acknowledged that they are heavy and elaborate. He was sent for to Rome, to assist, with other learned men, in the reformation of the calendar, by pope Gregory; which he afterward undertook a defence of, against Scaliger, Vieta, and others, who attacked it. He died at Rome, the 6th of February, 1612, at 75 years of age, after more than 50 years close application to the mathematical sciences.

CLEFF. See Cliff.