P.S. FAMOUS CRO 2018 M. GETALDIC

Marin Getaldić Marin Getaldić (Marino Ghetaldi) is considered to be the most important Croatian mathematician and physicist from the turn of the 17th century. He is a member of the group of Croatian scientists from the famous Republic of Ragusa that, with its organisation and power, enabled science and culture to flourish in accordance with the movements in the rest of Europe undergoing renaissance. Getaldić created the parabolic reflector with a two meter circumference allowing its focus point to reach up to 1500 °C. Nowadays, it can be seen at the National Maritime Museum in London. Bete was Getaldić's nickname and the Betina Cave near Dubrovnik, where he performed his experiments, was named after him. He knew many distinguished scientists of his era and was friends with François Viète, a French mathematician, making a significant contribution to the development of his algebra method. He also regularly exchanged letters with Galileo Galilei, an Italian mathematician, physicist and astronomer. Marin Getaldić was born on October 2nd, 1568 in a reputable family of nobles. Their roots and role in the public, cultural and scientific life of Dubrovnik lasted for eight centuries. He gained his elementary education with the Franciscans and then went on to the Dubrovnik High School that, with its organisation and numerous lecturers from Italian scientific and cultural centres, was at a high level. After he completed his education, he started earning his living working for the Republic of Ragusa. An especially important moment in his life occurred in 1595 when he went on a trip that lasted several years during which he visited numerous European science centres and connected with many scientists. He returned to Dubrovnik in 1603 and took on public duties with high responsibilities that prevented him from keeping up with the newest scientific events to the extent he wanted to. He published seven works with Mathematical Analysis and Synthesis being one of the most important ones. In it, Getaldić, correctly recognising the importance of Viète's work, became involved in development of algebra leading to its fundamental reform approaching establishment of analytical geometry. He got married rather late in life, at the age of 53, to Marija Sorkočević with whom he had three daughters. Unfortunately, Marija died shortly after giving birth. Marin Getaldić, grief stricken and weakened by illnesses, died in 1626 only five years after the wedding. Osor Slaven Barišić, PhD, Institute of Physics