Aloysius Lilius

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Aloysius Lilius (c. 1510 – 1576), also Luigi Lilio or Luigi Giglio (or Aluise Lilio or Aloisius Lilius), was an Italian doctor, astronomer, philosopher and chronologist who devised the Gregorian Calendar.

Lilius crater on the Moon is named for him. In computer science, the Lilian date is the number of days since adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, on 14 October 1582.

Life and work

Very little is known about the early life of Lilius/Lilio/Giglio. It is known that he came from Calabria (Italy), either from Cirò or Zirò. He studied medicine in Naples, after which he served Earl Carafa. He lectured in medicine at the University of Perugia from 1552.

He is primarily known as the creator of the Gregorian Calendar, after writing a manuscript titled Compendiuem novae rationis restituendi kalendarium (Compendium of the New Plan for the Restitution of the Calendar). However, the reform to the calendar did not occur until six years after his death, when his brother Antonio presented the manuscript to Pope Gregory XIII. The manuscript was then given to the reform commission, and was adopted in 1582, after some modification by Christopher Clavius. The papal bull was issued on February 24, 1582 ordering Christians to adopt the new calendar.

See also

• Julian calendar

Notes

References

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External links

• Catholic encyclopedia entry

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