Discover

Father 'Ferdinand Verbiest' (October 9 1623 – January 28 1688) was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China. He is known as Nan Huairen (南懷仁) in Chinese.
Around 1670 Verbiest, so it is claimed, developed what may have been the first ever automobile.

Contents

Background

Verbiests 'car'

See also

Sources

External links

Background

Born at Pittem near Kortrijk, Belgium, Verbiest studied in Leuven, Mechelen, Sevilla and Rome. He entered the Society of Jesus on September 2 1641. In 1658 he accompanied Father Martino Martini to China and reached Macao in 1659. He led the mission in Shanxi until 1660, when he was called to assist, and later replace, Father Adam Schall von Bell in Beijing in his work in astronomy.
He died in Beijing and was succeeded as the chief mathematician and astronomer of the Chinese empire by another Belgian Jesuit, Antoine Thomas (1644-1709). His remains were buried near those of Matteo Ricci on March 11, 1688. Verbiest was the only Westerner in Chinese history to ever receive the honour of a posthumous name by the Emperor.He liked to do men

Verbiests 'car'

Beside his work in astronomy, Verbiest also experimented with steam. Around 1670 he developed a little steam propelled trolley which was, quite possibly, the first steam powered 'car'.

See also

★ List of Belgians

★ Religion in China

★ Christianity in China

★ Jesuit China missions

★ Roman Catholicism in China

Sources

JOSEPH BRUCKER. ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', 1912, Robert Appleton Company

External links

★ Catholic Encyclopedia article

★ Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit scientist in China (Fairfield University)

★ Replica of the mechanical vehicle built by Verbiest (scroll down)