Robert Grosseteste (1168-1253)

Robert Grosseteste, born around 1168 to a poor AngloNorman family in England, was one of the outstanding scholastics of his era. A philosopher, scientist, mathematician, theologian, teacher, and church leader, he served on the faculty of Oxford, rising to the role of “master of the schools” at the university.

Grosseteste taught theology at Oxford before becoming Bishop of Lincoln. His thought is representative of the conflicting currents in the intellectual climate of Europe in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries.

Grosseteste was a man of unusually wide-ranging interests. His scientific writings – on astronomy an its practical applications for the calculation of the ecclesiastical calendar, meteorology, comets, the tides, the understanding of natural laws in terms of geometry, light and optics - were mostly composed before 1235.

His work in science and natural philosophy is inspired by a material newly translated from Arabic sources and by the new Aristotelian material philosophy, especially the Physics, On the Heaven and Posterior Analytics.

He also carried out pastoral ministry and in 1235 was elected to the Bishopric of Lincoln, where he served until his death in 1253.
Robert Grosseteste (1168-1253)