Henry Oldenburg, F. R. S. (c.1615-1677)

Abstract

Henry Oldenburg was bom in Bremen, probably in 1615, though the exact date is uncertain. His father, Heinrich Oldenburg, was a tutor in the city’s Gymnasium, and later became a professor at the University of Dorpat. The earliest member of the family of whom there is any certain knowledge is Johann Oldenburg, who came to Bremen from Munster in 1528 to take up the post of Rector of the then newly-established Evangelical School. Oldenburg received his early education at the Evangelical School, and proceeded in due course to the Gymnasium, where in 1639 he took the degree of Master of Theology. Shortly afterwards he left Germany for England, and remained here for several years, apparently in the capacity of tutor in various aristocratic households. In 1648 he left England and spent some time travelling on the Continent. In 1652 he returned to Bremen, and in the following year was appointed by the Senate of the city as their diplomatic agent at the court of the Lord Protector, his task being to secure some agreement by which the neutrality of Bremen should be respected in the war between England and Holland. His appointment to this post was criticized on the ground that during his former stay in England he had taken the King’s side in the quarrel with Parliament, but whatever truth there may have been in this assertion his experience o f this country and his knowledge of the language were of more importance in the Senate’s eyes, and on 30 June 1653 he received his letters of appointment. He seems to have been successful as a diplomat, for on the conclusion of the war he was confirmed in his appointment by further letters from the Senate dated 22 September 1654.