Father Ferdinand Verbiest (October 9 1623-January 28 1688) was a Belgian Jesuit missionary in China.

Known by the Chinese name Nan Huairen (南懷仁).

Born at Pittem near Kortrijk, Belgium, he studied in Leuven, Sevilla and Rome. He entered the Society of Jesus on September 2 1641. In 1658 he accompanied Father Martino Martini to China and reached Macao in 1659. He led the mission in Shanxi until 1660, when he was called to assist, and later replace, Father Adam Schall von Bell in Beijing in his work in astronomy. Beside his work in astronomy, he also experimented with steam. He developed a little steam propeled trolley at around 1670, possibly the first steam powered "car".

He died in Beijing and his remains were buried near those of Matteo Ricci on March 11, 1688.

See also

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• Adam Schall von Bell
• Catholicism in China
• Jesuit pre-modern China missions
• List of Belgians
• Religion in China
• Jesuit China missions
• Christianity in China

Catholic missionaries in China

• Michel Benoist
• Giuseppe Castiglione
• Armand David
• Matteo Ricci
• Johann Adam Schall von Bell
• Ferdinand Verbiest
• St. Francis Xavier

Protestant missionaries in China

• Robert Morrison
• William Milne
• William Chalmers Burns
• Hudson Taylor
• Timothy Richard
• Young John Allen
• Jonathan Goforth

Sources

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JOSEPH BRUCKER. The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1912, Robert Appleton Company

External links

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• Catholic Encyclopedia article
• Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit scientist in China (Fairfield University)

Jesuit China missions | Jesuits | 1623 births | 1688 deaths | Non-Chinese known by Chinese names

Ferdinand Verbiest | Ferdinand Verbiest | Ferdinand Verbiest | 南怀仁