Paul Luther

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Paul Luther

Paul Luther, contemporary wood engraving

Born 28 January 1533

Wittenberg, Electorate of Saxony in the Holy Roman

Empire

Died 8 March 1593 (aged 60)

Leipzig, Electorate of Saxony in the Holy Roman

Empire

Alma mater University of Wittenberg

Occupation Physician, medical chemist, and alchemist

Spouse(s) Anna Warbeck

 Children 6

Parent(s) Martin Luther

Katharina von Bora

Paul Luther (28 January 1533 – 8 March 1593)[1] was a German physician, medical

chemist, and alchemist.[2] He was the third son of the German Protestant
Reformer Martin Luther and was successively physician to John Frederick II, Duke of
Saxony; Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg; Augustus, Elector of Saxony and
his successor Christian I, Elector of Saxony. He taught alchemy to Anne of Denmark.

Contents

 1Early life
 2Career
 3Family
 4Publications
 5Notes
 6Primary sources
 7Further reading

Early life[edit]
Born at Wittenberg, the third son of Martin Luther by his marriage to Katharina von
Bora, Luther was named after Saint Paul the Apostle and proved such an energetic
child that his father said of him, "He is destined to fight against the Turks." The boy's
education began with the study of Greek and Latin under Philip Melanchthon and Veit
Winsheim.[3]
In 1546, when Luther was thirteen, his father died, leaving the family in straitened
circumstances without Luther's salaries. At the outbreak of the Schmalkaldic War, they
fled to Magdeburg and in 1547 to Brunswick. In July, at the end of the war, it was
possible to return to Wittenberg, although in relative poverty. On the advice of
Melanchthon, Luther attended the University of Wittenberg to study medicine.[3]
In September 1552, an outbreak of the Bubonic plague forced the Luther family to leave
their home once again. They fled to Torgau, travelling in a cart which overturned near
the city gates, seriously injuring Luther's mother. She died there on 20 December 1552.
While in Torgau, on 5 February 1553, at the age of twenty, Luther married Anna,
daughter of the translator Veit Warbeck (c. 1490–1534).[4]

Career[edit]
Returning to Wittenberg, Luther completed his medical studies and on 29 July 1557
gained the degree of Doctor of Medicine.[3]
He turned down an offer to teach at the University of Jena because of his objections to
the theology of Victorinus Strigel, a leading academic there. In religion, Luther was an
enthusiastic Lutheran and zealously defended his father's teachings.[3]
Luther took up a career as a physician. He became the personal physician of John
Frederick II, Duke of Saxony, remaining at Gotha until the surrender of the city on 13
April 1567. He was then in practice at the court of Joachim II Hector, Elector of
Brandenburg until his death on 3 January 1571, and was subsequently physician
to Augustus, Elector of Saxony, and his successor, Christian I, at Dresden. In 1590 he
retired and took up residence at Leipzig.[3]
Luther was also distinguished as a chemist [3] and developed several drugs, such
as Unguentum ex nitro, Magistrum perlarum, Magistrum collorum, and Aurum potabile,
which were produced by the pharmacies of Saxony. He was interested in alchemy, the
ultimate goal of which was the production of gold, and has been claimed as the most
significant instructor of the amateur alchemist Anne of Denmark, Electress of Saxony.[2]
Luther died at Leipzig on 8 March 1593. His funeral oration was given by his friend
Matthias Dresser.[5]

Family[edit]
While still a medical student at Wittenberg, Luther had married Anna Warbeck. [4] They
were married for thirty-three years, until Anna's death at Dresden on 15 May 1586.
[6]
 From this marriage there were six children:[4]

 Paul Luther (1553–1558)

 Margarethe Luther (1555–1597), who married Simon Gottsteig[4]
 Johannes Ernst Luther (1560–1637), who became canon of Zeitz. Through
him, the male line of the Luther family continued until 1759. [4]
 Johannes Friedrich Luther (1562–1599)
 Anna Luther (1564–1596), who married in Oberschaar Nicolaus Freiherr
Marschall von Bieberstein
 Johannes Joachim Luther (1569–1600)