Robert Fludd, also known as Robertus de Fluctibus (1574, Bearsted, Kent – September 8 1637, London) was a prominent English Rosicrucian and Paracelsian physicist, astrologer, and mystic. He was the son of Sir Thomas Fludd, a high-ranking governmental official (Queen Elizabeth I 's treasurer for war in Europe).

He obtained a degree at Oxford - a MD in Medicine.

Between 1598 and 1604, Fludd studied medicine, chemistry and the occult on the European mainland, but he is best known for his research in occult philosophy. He had a celebrated exchange of views with Johannes Kepler concerning the scientific and hermetic approaches to knowledge. His philosophy is presented in Utriusque Cosmi, Maioris scilicet et Minoris, metaphysica, physica, atque technica Historia metaphysical, physical, and technical history of the two worlds, namely the greater and the lesser (published in Germany between 1617 and 1621); according to Frances Yates, his memory system (which she describes in detail in The Art of Memory, pp. 321-341) may reflect the layout of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (The Art of Memory, Chapter XVI).

In 1630, Fludd proposed many perpetual motion machines. People were trying to patent variations of Fludd's machine in the 1870s. Fludd's machine worked by recirculation by means of a water wheel and Archimedean screw. The device pumps the water back into its own supply tank. _{[http://www.windmillworld.com/mills/images/fludd1618.gif}

Fludd was the first person to discuss the circulation of the blood. However, his explanation based upon theories of the microcosm and macrocosm were incorrect, and William Harvey went on to formulate the idea in our current understanding.

Gwynedd connection

He was a descendant of Cunedda Wledig ap Edern, King of Gwynedd, which in now part of Wales.

Gwynedd is one of two areas in Wales that has been ruled by Irish Royal immigrants, the other being Dyfed.

External Links

• Azogue. Journal for the Historical-Critical Study of Alchemy: Azogue is an electronic journal covering all aspects of the history of alchemy and related fields such as hermeticism, rosacrucianism, paracelsism.

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