Born in Bermuda and educated at Harvard, Starkey was a fascinating figure – an American alchemist whose work significantly influenced some of the greatest scientific minds of his era, including Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle.
Starkey's most famous work, Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben (published in German in 1722, though likely written much earlier), is a journey into the world of iatrochemistry, offering both an explanation and a staunch defense of the radical theories of Jan Baptist van Helmont. Starkey, with his deep alchemical knowledge, guides readers through the intricate processes of spagyric medicine, promising a "short and secure path to a long and healthy life." For him, the pursuit of physical well-being was intimately linked with a quest for spiritual enlightenment.
At the core of Starkey's alchemical endeavors was his relentless pursuit and exposition of the "Liquor Alcahest." This fabled universal solvent was the holy grail of alchemists, believed to possess the power to transmute matter and unlock the secrets of longevity. Starkey's detailed descriptions of his medicinal preparations and alchemical processes in Chymie provide an invaluable glimpse into the practical application of these esoteric arts.
It was Starkey's unique insights and his work on the "Liquor Alcahest" that truly captivated the attention of his contemporaries. Both Isaac Newton, the father of classical mechanics and universal gravitation, and Robert Boyle, often considered the first modern chemist, were deeply engrossed in alchemical studies and found Starkey's writings to be of immense interest. Starkey's American background, combined with his deep understanding of alchemical traditions, made him a pivotal figure in the intellectual exchange of the time, bridging transatlantic knowledge and influencing the very foundations of what would become modern chemistry. His Chymie remains a crucial historical document for understanding the intricate world of early chemistry and alchemical medicine.
1722. D. Georg Starkey. Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben. Nebst der Bereitung der wahren Artzneyen, und derselben Gebrauch. Samt einer Beschreibung des Liquor Alcahests. Allen denen, welchen ihre Gesundheit lieb ist, sehr dienlich. 12°. nn, 458 pages. Surgical parchment binding. Title loose, text browning, clean and well preserved. Language: German.
Born in Bermuda and educated at Harvard, Starkey was a fascinating figure – an American alchemist whose work significantly influenced some of the greatest scientific minds of his era, including Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle.
Starkey's most famous work, Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben (published in German in 1722, though likely written much earlier), is a journey into the world of iatrochemistry, offering both an explanation and a staunch defense of the radical theories of Jan Baptist van Helmont. Starkey, with his deep alchemical knowledge, guides readers through the intricate processes of spagyric medicine, promising a "short and secure path to a long and healthy life." For him, the pursuit of physical well-being was intimately linked with a quest for spiritual enlightenment.
At the core of Starkey's alchemical endeavors was his relentless pursuit and exposition of the "Liquor Alcahest." This fabled universal solvent was the holy grail of alchemists, believed to possess the power to transmute matter and unlock the secrets of longevity. Starkey's detailed descriptions of his medicinal preparations and alchemical processes in Chymie provide an invaluable glimpse into the practical application of these esoteric arts.
It was Starkey's unique insights and his work on the "Liquor Alcahest" that truly captivated the attention of his contemporaries. Both Isaac Newton, the father of classical mechanics and universal gravitation, and Robert Boyle, often considered the first modern chemist, were deeply engrossed in alchemical studies and found Starkey's writings to be of immense interest. Starkey's American background, combined with his deep understanding of alchemical traditions, made him a pivotal figure in the intellectual exchange of the time, bridging transatlantic knowledge and influencing the very foundations of what would become modern chemistry. His Chymie remains a crucial historical document for understanding the intricate world of early chemistry and alchemical medicine.
1722. D. Georg Starkey. Chymie, Oder: Erklärung der Natur und Vertheidigung Helmonts als Ein kurtzer und sicherer Weg zu einem langen und gesunden Leben. Nebst der Bereitung der wahren Artzneyen, und derselben Gebrauch. Samt einer Beschreibung des Liquor Alcahests. Allen denen, welchen ihre Gesundheit lieb ist, sehr dienlich. 12°. nn, 458 pages. Surgical parchment binding. Title loose, text browning, clean and well preserved. Language: German.
