Jacques Daléchamps

1513 (age 75)

Caen, France

After a few years in Grenoble and Valence, Daléchamps moved in 1552 to Lyons, where he spent the remainder of his life. His most important scientific work is the Hi storia generalis plantarum (1586-1587), the most complete botanical compilation of its time and the first to describe much of the flora peculiar to the region around Lyons. It formed the basis for a later work by Jacobus Antonius Clavenna but was severely criticized in separate writings by Jacobus Pons and Gaspard Bauhin. Daléchamps’ other more or less original work is the Chirurgie franqoise (1570), based largely on Book VI of Paul of Aegina’s De re medica but also incorporating material from other sources, including Ambroise Paré and Jacques Roy. Much of Daléchamps’ effort, however, was directed toward editing and translating earlier scientific and medical writings. He contributed, in one way or another, to editions of works of Pliny the Elder, the two Senecas, Dioscorides, Paul of Aegina, and Raymond Chalmel de Viviers. In addition, he translated works of Athenaeus into Latin and of Galen into French. Among Daléchamps’ unpublished works are a collection of his letters; an “Ornithologie,” which consists only of illustrations without descriptions; and a Latin translation of all of the then-known writings of Theophrastus and of some minor writings attributed to Aristotle. He was probably the first to make a complete Latin translation of all of Theophrastus’ known writings.

Jacques Daléchamps

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botanist physician scientist

Background

Daléchamps was born in 1513, in Caen, France.

Education

Daléchamps entered the University of Montpellier in 1545. He received his first degree in medicine the next year, and a doctorate in the same subject in 1547, under Guillaume Rondelet.

$Education period of Jacques Dal\u00E9champs in University of Montpellier$

Career

After a few years in Grenoble and Valence, Daléchamps moved in 1552 to Lyons, where he spent the remainder of his life. His most important scientific work is the Hi storia generalis plantarum (1586-1587), the most complete botanical compilation of its time and the first to describe much of the flora peculiar to the region around Lyons. It formed the basis for a later work by Jacobus Antonius Clavenna but was severely criticized in separate writings by Jacobus Pons and Gaspard Bauhin.

Daléchamps’ other more or less original work is the Chirurgie franqoise (1570), based largely on Book VI of Paul of Aegina’s De re medica but also incorporating material from other sources, including Ambroise Paré and Jacques Roy. Much of Daléchamps’ effort, however, was directed toward editing and translating earlier scientific and medical writings. He contributed, in one way or another, to editions of works of Pliny the Elder, the two Senecas, Dioscorides, Paul of Aegina, and Raymond Chalmel de Viviers. In addition, he translated works of Athenaeus into Latin and of Galen into French. Among Daléchamps’ unpublished works are a collection of his letters; an “Ornithologie,” which consists only of illustrations without descriptions; and a Latin translation of all of the then-known writings of Theophrastus and of some minor writings attributed to Aristotle. He was probably the first to make a complete Latin translation of all of Theophrastus’ known writings.

Achievements

Daléchamps is best known as botanist. He is famous for his Latin translation of Athenee, enriched with notes. His most important work is Historia generalis plantarum (1586), a compilation of all botanical knowledge of his time, published in Lyon.

Works

Historia generalis plantarum Historia generalis plantarum

$Chirurgie Fran\u00E7oise Chirurgie Fran\u00E7oise$

book
- Chirurgie Françoise
  (French Edition)
  1610
- Historia generalis plantarum 1586

Connections

Little is known of Daléchamps' personal fife, except that his friends and correspondents included Conrad Gesner, Joseph Justus Scaliger, Robert Constantin, and Jean Femel.

References

Dictionary of Scientific Biography Volume 3
1971

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