Galileo Bonaiuti

Galileo Bonaiuti (Florence, circa 1370–1450) was an Italian doctor and member of the Florentine governing council, successful in his time but most noteworthy as the ancestor from whom Galileo Galilei got both his given and family names.

Galileo Bonaiuti
Born1370
Florence
Died1450
Florence
Resting placeBasilica of Santa Croce
Alma materUniversity of Florence
OccupationPhysician, Professor of Medicine, Governing Counselman.
Known forGrandfather of Galileo

Biography

Bonaiuti practiced medicine in Florence in the 15th century, taught medicine at the University of Florence, and was on the governing council of the Republic of Florence,[1] a powerful position on par in importance (domestically) to being a member of the US senate, today.[2] He was buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce, roughly halfway between where Michelangelo and his own descendant, Galileo, would be interred.

While officially retaining the Bounaiuti surname for generations, the family began referring to itself by the surnames Galilei or Galileo in his honor around that time.[3] This is the likely source of his descendant's own name, influenced by the inscription on his tomb in the Basilica; Galileo Bonaiuti was referred to as:

Magister Galileus de Galileis, olim Bonaiutis.

In other words, Professor Galileo Galilei, of the Bonaiuti family.

References
  1. Michael Sharratt, Galileo: decisive innovator, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1996, pp. 22-23
  2. Mitch Stokes, Galileo, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN (2011) pp. 5-6
  3. Galileo Galilei — The Father of Physics and Astronomy


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