Arnold Boate

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Arnold Boate, originally called de Boot (1606–1653) was a

Hartlib circle
.

Background

Born Arnold de Boot in

Hebrew studies and in particular the correct reading of the Old Testament. His first book, co-written with Francis Taylor and entitled Examen Praefationis Morini in Biblia Graeca de Textus Ebraici et Graeci authoritate was published in Leiden in 1630.[2]

Career

He and his brother Gerard moved to

Surgeon-General to the Irish Army.[3] He also built up a flourishing private practice among the Dutch community in Dublin.[3]

In 1641 Gerard and Arnold co-wrote Philosophia Naturalis Reformata, an attack upon Aristotelianism. Arnold's experience as an army doctor also led him to write Diverse remarkable passages .. of our Army in Ireland (1642) and Observationes medicae de affectibus a veteribus omissis (1649).[3]

His marriage, which was a love match, to Margaret Dongan, daughter of

Protestant faith only for the purpose of his career.[1] Arnold, however, wrote of Dongan in his memoir of Margaret with affection and respect. Dongan was a wealthy man, but suffered heavy losses during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.[1] Arnold's sympathies were with the Cromwellian cause and he is said to have acted as a spy for Oliver Cromwell.[4] In 1644 Arnold decided to quit Ireland. He moved briefly to stay with his brother in London but then settled permanently in Paris. He is said to have spied for Cromwell on English Royalists while in Paris.[5] Much of his later career was spent in scholarly dispute with Louis Capel, who had questioned his Biblical readings and the result was a lengthy pamphlet war, involving several scholars on both sides, including Ussher.[2]

Like his brother, he was a member of the Hartlib Circle, the circle of scholars who corresponded with Samuel Hartlib on scientific, religious and political issues, and he is credited with having established the Irish branch of the circle; even after he left Ireland he acted as a conduit between Hartlib and Ussher. Gerard's most famous work The Natural History of Ireland was written, at Hartlib's suggestion, from material collected by Arnold.[2] After Gerard's death in 1650 Hartlib suggested that Arnold continue the work, but Arnold himself died in Paris in 1653.

Family

On

Christmas Day 1642 Arnold married Margaret Dongan (1626-1651).[1] Of their three children two died young. Mariana, their only surviving daughter, married Marcus Beyerman. Margaret died in April 1651 from complications during pregnancy
.

Arnold was devoted to his wife, and shortly after her death he published a remarkable tribute, The Character of a Truly Virtuous and Pious Woman as it has been acted by Mistress Margaret Dongan, which was dedicated to Thomas Sydserf, Bishop of Galloway.[2] It paints a picture of a young woman who was notable for beauty, religious fervour, kindness, peaceful nature, charity and family loyalty

Works

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.340
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Gilbert, John Thomas (1886). "Boate, Arnold" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 5. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ^ a b c Mendyk, S. Gerard Boate and "Ireland's Natural History" (1985) The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Vol. 115 pp.5-8
  4. ^ Armstrong, Robert "Boate (De Boote, Boet, Bootius, Botius), Arnold" Cambridge Dictionary of National Biography
  5. ^ Armstrong

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilbert, John Thomas (1886). "Boate, Arnold". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 5. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

External links

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