The career of Henry Oldenburg illuminates the development of the Royal Society during the late 17th century. He fostered the talents of many of the best-known scientists of that time, including Newton, Flamsteed, Malpighi, and Leeuwenhoek, and his relationship with them and others is chronicled in this book.
I: THE RISE TO PROMINENCE; 1. The slow development of a diplomat 1619-1654; 2. Learning the art of scientific correspondence 1655-1661; 3. Towards a settled life 1660-1665; 4. The difficult years 1665-1667; II: THE CORRESPONDENCE: METHOD AND CONTENT; 5. The promoter of philosophical intelligence 1665-1670; 6. Scientific diplomacy 1669-1677 (1) Newton's ambassador; 7. Scientific diplomacy 1669-1677 (2) Huygens, mathematics, mechanics, and horology; 8. The encouragement of talent 1667-1677; 9. From friends to enemies: Hooke and Oldenburg 1662-1677; 10. Colleagues, friends, and family: the last decade; 11. Aftermath; Appendix: The fate of Oldenburg's children (with the assistance of P.D. Buchanan; Abbreviated titles; Notes; Bibliography
Boas Hall narrates her story well and with a tone of compassion. The British Journal for the History of Science ... a book that does much to rescue Oldenburgh from the shadows into which his own reticence about his status and abilities might have cast him. In Hall's hands, Oldenburg is restored to his full humanity as well as to the intellectual reputation that he deserved. Notes and Records