springer.com History : History, general Brechka, Frank T. Gerard Van Swieten and His World 1700–1772 QU ALITIES, QUERIES, AND REPUTE Holland has bred its share of remarkable men and Gerard van Swieten was one of them. Raised in Leiden by fairly prosperous Catholic parents, educated at Louvain and Leiden, acknowledged as one of the most gifted pupils of the famed scientist Herman Boerhaave, and an eminent doctor in his native city for many years, he became chief physician at the Court of Vienna, director of the Imperial Library, head of both the Vienna Medical Faculty and the Censorship Commission, and trusted councillor of the Empress Maria Theresa. There is a short street in Leiden that presently honors his name and his figure is one of those surrounding the Empress on her imposing memorial in Vienna. What sort of man was this who travelled so far? What achievements, what qualities deserve such remembrances? Why a study of his life? Gerard van Swieten worked no miracles. He accomplished no "diplo• matic revolution," commanded no victorious army, helped to change no political boundary, wrote no Springer literary masterpiece, proposed no radically new or notable scientific theory. More of an Softcover reprint of the 1st organizer than an innovator, more of an administrator than an orginator, he was content to original 1st ed. 1970, 179 p. edition compile, to put together, to comment upon, to explain the discoveries of others and to manipulate the given situations presented to him. He seldom initiated. He followed through. Printed book Order online at springer.com/booksellers Softcover Springer Nature Customer Service Center LLC 233 Spring Street Printed book New York, NY 10013 Softcover USA ISBN 978-94-010-3225-4 T: +1-800-SPRINGER NATURE $ 109,00 (777-4643) or 212-460-1500 [email protected] Available Discount group Professional Books (2) Product category Contributed volume Series International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées Other renditions Softcover ISBN 978-94-010-3224-7 Prices and other details are subject to change without notice. All errors and omissions excepted. Americas: Tax will be added where applicable. Canadian residents please add PST, QST or GST. Please add $5.00 for shipping one book and $ 1.00 for each additional book. Outside the US and Canada add $ 10.00 for first book, $5.00 for each additional book. If an order cannot be fulfilled within 90 days, payment will be refunded upon request. Prices are payable in US currency or its equivalent. ISBN 978-94-010-3225-4 / BIC: HB / SPRINGER NATURE: SC700000 Part of .