Background
He was the eldest son of John Dee by his third wife, Jane, daughter of Bartholomew Fromond of East Cheam, Surrey, and was born at Mortlake on 13 July 1579. He accompanied his father in travels through Germany, Poland, and Bohemia.
He was the eldest son of John Dee by his third wife, Jane, daughter of Bartholomew Fromond of East Cheam, Surrey, and was born at Mortlake on 13 July 1579. He accompanied his father in travels through Germany, Poland, and Bohemia.
Anthony Wood was informed that he subsequently studied at Oxford, but he took no degree, and his college is unknown.
After his return to England he was placed at Westminster School, 3 May 1592, under the tuition of Edward Grant and Camden. Settling in London with the intention of practising "physic" (medicine) he exhibited at the door of his house a list of medicines which were said to be certain cures for many diseases. The censors of the College of Physicians summoned him to appear before them.
But it is not known with what outcome.
Proceeding to Manchester, Dee married Isabella, daughter of Edward Prestwych, justice of the peace. Through the recommendation of James I he was appointed one of the physicians to the Tsar Michael I of Russia.
He remained in Russia for about fourteen years, principally at Moscow. Arthur Dee died in September or October 1651 and was buried in Street George"s Church, Tombland, Norwich.
His relationship to Browne has been little explored, but on his death it was to Browne that the bulk of Arthur Dee"s alchemical manuscripts and books were bequeathed.
In the early 20th century Rasputin stole a number of Arthur Dee"s translations of his father"s writings into Russian. They were later reclaimed by the Romanov family and returned to the Imperial Library in Moscow.