Luigi Ferdinand Marsigli ( 1658 - 1730 )

Birth: Bologna, Italy (10 or 20 July 1658) Death: Bologna, Italy (01 November 1730) Profession: Author; soldier Research Field: Natural history; geography Education: Pupil of Marcello Malpighi (FRS 1669) at Bologna Career: Travelled to Constantinople (1678), where he collected natural history specimens and information about the Ottoman Army; served in the Army of Emperor Leopold I (1682-1704); wounded and captured by Tartars (1682) he witnessed the siege of Vienna as a slave and was rescued (1684); patient of Giacopo Grande (FRS 1690) and Malpighi; Director of the siege works at Buda; Colonel (1690); represented the Emperor in Constantinople at the negotiations for the frontier of Dalmatia; brought back to Vienna a large collection of oriental manuscripts; General in the War of the Spanish Succession; accused of cowardice; travelled to Switzerland, Paris and Marseille, where he settled; Commander of the Papal Army (1709); gave his collections of scientific instruments, maps and natural history specimens to the University of Bologna, where they became the foundation of the Istituto delle Scienze e Belle Arti; travelled to England and Holland; on his return to Bologna, founded a printing press with a stock of oriental type; climbed Monte Cimone, the highest peak of the northern Appenines (1719); died of apoplexy Memberships: Foreign Member, Academie Royale des Sciences; Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna (1712, Founder) Membership: Fellow Election Date: 25/11/1691 (date of approval by Council).