Cort Aslakssøn


Cort Aslakssøn was a Norwegian astronomer, theologist and philosopher. He was the first Norwegian to become a professor at the University of Copenhagen.

Biography

Aslakssøn was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the son of Aslak Magnussøn and Christina Jacobsdatter. He attended Bergen Cathedral School and after the death of his parents came under the under the patronage of Jens Pederssøn Schielderup, Bishop of Bergen. In 1578, he was transferred to the Latin school in Malmö. In 1584, he was enrolled at the University of Copenhagen. From 1590 to 1593 he worked as assistant for astronomer Tycho Brahe.
He subsequently embarked on a several-year study trip to various universities on the continent. He was appointed professor of Pedagogy at the University of Copenhagen from 1600. From 1600-1603 he served also as notary at the university with administrative duties. In 1605, he became dean of the Faculty of Arts. In 1606, he was appointed professor of Hebrew Language and from 1607 professor of Theology. He died in Copenhagen in 1624.

Selected works

Cort Aslakssøn published numerous writings in various topics. His main work, De natura cæli triplicis, was published in 1597. Other notable worklss included Grammaticæ Hebrææ libri duo, Physica et Ethica Mosaica and Historiske Beskriffuelse Om den Reformerede Religion