Pieter Wils (1600 - 1647)

Field(s) of interest: scientific instruments | surveying | geometry | mathemetics | architecture
Gender: male

Born: Leiden, 1600
Died: Haarlem, 19-09-1647

Biography:
Wils was instrument maker in Haarlem in the early seventeenth century. In 1628 he is mentioned as a surveyor, astronomer, and fortification engineer. He drafted the ground plan of the St. Bavo church in Haarlem. In 1634-1638 he was a member of the St. Luke guild (guild of artists), where he was part of the section 'mixed arts', meaning: 'geometry, architecture, and mathematics'. He died before 1648. Wils’ book on mathematics was published by his pupil G. Kinckhuysen as: 'Wis-konstige wercke' (Amsterdam 1648).

Collections: Whipple Collection Cambridge (an instrument to determine time and height, engraved: 'Pieter Wils fecit Haarlem')


Occupations:
Instrument maker and surveyor: ~1628 (Haarlem)

Sources:
Wils, Pieter en G. Kinckhuysen, Wis-konstige wercke (Amsterdam 1648).

Ruurs, R. Pieter Saenredam : zijn boekenbezit en zijn relatie met de landmeter Pieter Wils. (1983).

Rooseboom, M. Bijdrage tot de geschiedenis der instrumentmakerskunst in de noordelijke Nederlanden. (Leiden 1950).

Master thesis of J. Beuving, 'Pieter Wils' Wis-konstige Wercken' (Utrecht 2009). http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/student-theses/2011-0404-200431/Beuving%20J%20Master.pdf (last seen 23-01-2012).