Francesco Redi

Timeline

1. 1626–1654Arezzo · TuscanyRedi was born into a family of physicians in Arezzo, studied medicine at the University of Pisa, and later practiced in Rome, Florence, and elsewhere, where he met scholars of the Galilean school. In 1654 he was appointed court physician by Grand Duke Ferdinand II, entering the Medici court and laying the foundation for his later scientific career.
2. 1654–1697Florence · TuscanyWhile serving as court physician, Redi studied snake venom, parasites, and fossils, and took part in the activities of the Florence Experimental Academy. In 1668 he published Experiments on the Generation of Insects, using multi-layered controlled experiments to prove that maggots on rotting meat come from fly eggs, powerfully refuting the Aristotelian tradition of spontaneous generation. He also continued to serve Grand Duke Cosimo III, balancing scientific writing with satirical poetry, and his influence spread throughout European scholarship.