Thomas Platter the Younger: Swiss Physician and Shakespeare’s Witness
Thomas Platter the Younger (c. 24 July 1574 – 4 December 1628) was a Swiss-born physician, traveller, and diarist. He served as a professor of anatomy, botany, and medicine at the University of Basel and as the city physician for Basel.
Early Life and Education
Platter was born in Basel around July 1574, the son of the humanist Thomas Platter the Elder. He pursued medical studies in Montpellier, where he documented his experiences as a student.
Career and Achievements
Platter held positions as a professor at the University of Basel, teaching anatomy, botany, and medicine. He also served Basel as the city physician, combining academic and practical medical work. His reputation rested not only on his medical expertise but also on his keen observations of the world around him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Between 1595 and 1600, Platter maintained a detailed diary that documented his travels and experiences across Europe. His accounts covered medical education practices, including dissections, street life and carnival celebrations in Barcelona, European theater, and the slave trade. On 21 September 1599, at approximately two o’clock in the afternoon, Platter and his older half-brother Felix Platter attended an early production of Julius Caesar at the Globe Theatre in London. This eyewitness account has proven invaluable to Shakespeare scholars seeking to establish the dating of that play.
Additional Resources
Platter’s diary remains a significant primary source for understanding late sixteenth-century European life, medical practice, and cultural history. Readers seeking more detailed information about his travels, observations, and medical career can consult his complete diary and related biographical sources available through Wikipedia and academic archives.
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