# Thomas Bradwardine

> English cleric, mathematician and courtier (c.1300–1349)

**Wikidata**: [Q461116](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q461116)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bradwardine)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-bradwardine

## Summary
Thomas Bradwardine was an English cleric, mathematician, and courtier who lived from approximately 1300 to 1349. He is best known for his extensive work as a scholar of theology, philosophy, and physics within the Kingdom of England. His career included significant roles as a university teacher at Oxford and a high-ranking Catholic priest who served as a bishop.

## Biography
- **Born**: c. 1300 (specific date and place not provided in source material)
- **Nationality**: English (associated with the Kingdom of England)
- **Education**: Affiliated with Merton College and Balliol College, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford.
- **Known for**: Being an English cleric, mathematician, and courtier with extensive knowledge in mathematics, physics, philosophy, and theology.
- **Employer(s)**: Merton College, Balliol College, University of Oxford, Diocese of Durham, St Paul's Cathedral.
- **Field(s)**: Mathematics, Physics, Philosophy, Theology, Clergy (Catholic priest, Catholic bishop).

## Contributions
The provided source material does not list specific publications, patents, founded companies, or named discoveries with dates. However, it establishes his role as a scholar and teacher who contributed to the fields of mathematics, physics, philosophy, and theology through his work at the University of Oxford and his ecclesiastical duties. His contributions are defined by his status as a "person with an extensive knowledge" in these disciplines and his service as an ordained minister and bishop within the Catholic Church structure in England.

## FAQs
**What were Thomas Bradwardine's primary professional roles?**
He served as an English cleric, mathematician, courtier, university teacher, and Catholic priest. Additionally, he held the high-ranking position of a Catholic bishop within the Church.

**Which academic institutions was Thomas Bradwardine associated with?**
He was affiliated with the University of Oxford, specifically serving at its constituent colleges of Merton College and Balliol College.

**What religious and ecclesiastical positions did he hold?**
Bradwardine was a Catholic priest and a Catholic bishop. He was also associated with the Diocese of Durham and St Paul's Cathedral in London.

**In which scientific and philosophical fields did he specialize?**
His expertise spanned mathematics, physics, philosophy, and theology, marking him as a scholar with extensive knowledge across these diverse disciplines.

## Why They Matter
Thomas Bradwardine represents a significant figure in the intellectual and religious landscape of 14th-century England. As a scholar who bridged the gap between mathematics, physics, and theology, he exemplifies the medieval tradition of integrating scientific inquiry with religious study. His tenure as a Catholic bishop and his affiliations with major Oxford colleges highlight his influence in both the academic and ecclesiastical spheres of the Kingdom of England. Without his work as a teacher and scholar, the development of these fields during his era would have lacked his specific contributions to the discourse on physics and theology.

## Notable For
- Being an English cleric, mathematician, and courtier active between c.1300 and 1349.
- Holding the title of Catholic bishop and serving as an ordained minister in the Catholic Church.
- Serving as a university teacher at the University of Oxford.
- Possessing extensive knowledge in mathematics, physics, philosophy, and theology.
- Being affiliated with Merton College and Balliol College.
- Holding positions associated with the Diocese of Durham and St Paul's Cathedral.
- Being recognized as a human member of the species *Homo sapiens* within the historic Kingdom of England.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Thomas Bradwardine was a human being, a unique member of the *Homo sapiens* species, born around the year 1300. He was a citizen of the Kingdom of England, a historic kingdom located on the British Isles that existed from 927 to 1649 and again from 1660 to 1707. His primary identity is recorded as an English cleric, mathematician, and courtier. He lived during a period spanning from approximately 1300 until his death in 1349.

### Academic Affiliations and Education
Bradwardine's academic life was deeply rooted in the University of Oxford, a collegiate research university in Oxford, England, which was founded in 1096. He was specifically affiliated with two of its constituent colleges. First, he was connected to Merton College, which was established in 1264. Second, he was associated with Balliol College, another constituent college of the university that was founded in 1263. These institutions served as the primary centers for his work as a university teacher.

### Ecclesiastical Career
As a member of the clergy, Bradwardine held significant religious titles. He was a Catholic priest, an ordained minister within the Catholic Church. His career advanced to the rank of Catholic bishop, a high-ranking ordained minister in the church. His ecclesiastical service included associations with specific religious institutions. He was linked to the Diocese of Durham, a Church of England diocese located in England. Furthermore, his career involved connections to St Paul's Cathedral, a prominent cathedral located in the City of London, England.

### Fields of Expertise
Bradwardine was a polymath with extensive knowledge across several distinct disciplines. He was recognized as a mathematician, defined as a person with an extensive knowledge of mathematics. He also operated as a physicist, functioning as a scientist who conducts research in physics. His intellectual scope extended to philosophy, where he was a person with an extensive knowledge of the subject. Additionally, he was a theologian, defined as a scholar of theology. These roles were often performed simultaneously, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of scholarship in his time.

### Courtly and Professional Roles
Beyond his academic and religious duties, Bradwardine served as a courtier. This role placed him within the royal or noble court of the Kingdom of England, indicating his status as a trusted advisor or attendant to the monarchy or high nobility. His combination of roles as a mathematician, theologian, and courtier highlights his versatility and the high regard in which he was held during his lifetime.

### Legacy and Historical Context
Thomas Bradwardine's life and work are documented within the context of the Kingdom of England during the 14th century. His contributions are preserved through his associations with major educational and religious institutions like the University of Oxford, Merton College, Balliol College, the Diocese of Durham, and St Paul's Cathedral. His identity as an English cleric, mathematician, and courtier remains the defining summary of his historical significance. He is remembered as a scholar who integrated rigorous scientific and philosophical study with deep theological commitment.

## References

1. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
3. Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography
4. Encyclopædia Britannica
5. BnF authorities
6. Integrated Authority File
7. LIBRIS. 2012
8. Catholic-Hierarchy.org
9. [Google Books](https://books.google.cat/books?id=pvP7EAAAQBAJ)
10. [Source](https://books.google.cat/books?id=SaJlbWK_-FcC&pg=PA99)
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15. [Source](https://books.google.cat/books?id=z3D77N2iinYC&pg=PA35)
16. [Google Books](https://books.google.cat/books?id=3AmcZ-GhJQMC)
17. [Source](https://books.google.cat/books?id=SaJlbWK_-FcC&pg=PA98)
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
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