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Adolphus Vorstius' (1597-1663) compiled a catalog of plants at the botanical garden of the University of Leiden. Founded in 1587 as a "physic garden," it focused on herbs & medicinal plants, including many species from the Americas, notably Brazil, the Virginia colony, & Canada.
Born in 1597, the son of a Leiden professor, Adolphus Vorstius was the son of Aelius Everhardus Vorstius. After attending the Latin School in Leiden, he enrolled in the University of Leiden in 1612. Here, he learned Greek under Henricus Bredius & Bonaventura Vulcanius, & studied the writings of Homer & Lucian. He also attended the lectures of Petrus Cunaeus, Daniel Heinsius, & employed to Thomas Erpenius with the Arabic language These language studies were designed to expand his possibilities in the study of botany. He also graduated from the then usual studies such as music, art & natural history.
After he had defended a De Motu under Gilbert Jack, he spent 7 years on a grand tour. This led him to Belgian, British, French & Italian universities. After further studies under Paul Reneaulme in Blois, he earned his medical doctorate at the University of Padua under Adriaan van den Spiegel on 20 August 1622. Returned home, he received from the Regent Maurice of Orange an appointment as associate professor of medicine at the University of Leiden in February 1624.
On 13 May 1625 he became a full professor of medicine & botany, to which the management of the Hortus Botanicus was connected. For this, he produced a catalog that captured the continuous growth of the botanical garden. In addition, he also participated in the organizational tasks of the University of Leiden & was in the years 1636, 1652 & 1660 rector of the Alma Mater. A disease ended his life at the age of 62.s the theology chair at Leiden University.
In his capacity as director of the botanical garden at Leidenhe Adolphus Vorstius published catalogs of the plants growing in the botanical garden (1633) as well as an edition of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates (1628).
Adolphus Vorstius, as a professor of medicine at the University, was intimately familiar with the garden & gave lectures in it every week, describing the nature & qualities of each plant in a chosen bed. His catalog of the plants was 1st published in 1633, & was updated & republished every few years (1636, 1643, 1649, 1658, & 1663) until his death.
