Joseph Vecinho
Encyclopedia
Joseph Vecinho was a Portuguese Jew, born in the town of Covilhã, court physician and scientist at the end of the fifteenth century.
He was a pupil of Abraham Zacuto
, under whom he studied mathematics and cosmography, on which latter subject he was regarded as an eminent authority by John II of Portugal
. He was sent by the king to the coast of Guinea
, there to measure the altitude of the sun, doubtless by means of the astrolabe
as improved by Jacob ben Machir.
When, in 1484, Christopher Columbus
laid before the king his plan for a western route to the Indies, it was submitted to a junta, or commission, consisting of the Bishop of Ceuta, "Mestre Josepe" (Joseph Vecinho), the court physician Rodrigo, a Jewish mathematician named Moses, and Martin Behaim
. The junta finally decided against Columbus' plans; and when the matter came up before the council of state Pedro de Menezes opposed them also, basing his arguments upon Joseph Vecinho's criticisms. Columbus attributed the refusal of the Portuguese monarch to adopt his plans chiefly to "the Jew Joseph." Though Vecinho did not favor Columbus, the latter had personal intercourse with him, and obtained from him a translation of Zacuto's astronomical tables. Columbus carried this translation with him on his voyage, and found it extremely useful; it was found in his library after his death.
Joseph Vecinho's translation of Zacuto's tables was published by the Jewish printer Samuel d'Ortas in Leiria
under the title "Almanach Perpetuum," 1496.
He was a pupil of Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto
Abraham Zacuto was a Sephardi Jewish astronomer, astrologer, mathematician and historian who served as Royal Astronomer in the 15th century to King John II of Portugal. The crater Zagut on the Moon is named after him....
, under whom he studied mathematics and cosmography, on which latter subject he was regarded as an eminent authority by John II of Portugal
John II of Portugal
John II , the Perfect Prince , was the thirteenth king of Portugal and the Algarves...
. He was sent by the king to the coast of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, there to measure the altitude of the sun, doubtless by means of the astrolabe
Astrolabe
An astrolabe is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars, determining local time given local latitude and longitude, surveying, triangulation, and to...
as improved by Jacob ben Machir.
When, in 1484, Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
laid before the king his plan for a western route to the Indies, it was submitted to a junta, or commission, consisting of the Bishop of Ceuta, "Mestre Josepe" (Joseph Vecinho), the court physician Rodrigo, a Jewish mathematician named Moses, and Martin Behaim
Martin Behaim
Martin Behaim , was a German mariner, artist, cosmographer, astronomer, philosopher, geographer and explorer in service to the King of Portugal.-Biography:The Behaim family had immigrated to Nuremberg because of religious persecution around...
. The junta finally decided against Columbus' plans; and when the matter came up before the council of state Pedro de Menezes opposed them also, basing his arguments upon Joseph Vecinho's criticisms. Columbus attributed the refusal of the Portuguese monarch to adopt his plans chiefly to "the Jew Joseph." Though Vecinho did not favor Columbus, the latter had personal intercourse with him, and obtained from him a translation of Zacuto's astronomical tables. Columbus carried this translation with him on his voyage, and found it extremely useful; it was found in his library after his death.
Joseph Vecinho's translation of Zacuto's tables was published by the Jewish printer Samuel d'Ortas in Leiria
Leiria
Leiria is a city in Leiria Municipality in the Centro Region, Portugal. It is the capital of Leiria District. The city proper has 50,200 inhabitants and the entire municipality has nearly 120,000...
under the title "Almanach Perpetuum," 1496.