Sebastian Brant (1457 – 10 May 1521 / Strasbourg)

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Sebastian Brant (also Brandt) was an Alsatian humanist and satirist. He is best known for his satire Das Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools).

Biography

He was born in Strasbourg. He studied at Basel, took the degree of doctor of law in 1489, and for some time held a professorship of jurisprudence there. Returning to Strasbourg, he was made syndic of the town, remaining there for the rest of his life.

In 1485 he married Elisabeth Bürgis from Basel, the daughter of a cutler. Elisabeth bore him seven children. Keen for his eldest son Onophrius to become a humanist, he taught him Latin in the cradle and enrolled him in university at the age of seven.

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