«Philosopher and physician; born at Candia June 16, 1591; died at Prague Oct. 16, 1655; son of Elijah, rabbi of Candia. Joseph received a thorough Jewish as well as secular education. At the University of Padua, which he entered at the age of fifteen, he studied logic, natural philosophy, metaphysics, and divinity; and then devoted himself to medicine and to his favorite studies, mathematics and astronomy, the latter under Galileo. While at Padua he frequently visited, at Venice, Leo de Modena, who exercised a great influence over him. Returning to Candia, Delmedigo's freethinking tendencies and his preference for secular studies soon made his residence there impracticable. For many years he led a wandering life, going first to Cairo, in search of new books for his rich library. There he associated with Karaite scholars, especially with their ?akam, Jacob Iskandari, at whose request he wrote his works on mechanics. At Cairo, Delmedigo triumphed over a certain Mohammedan professor in a public debate on mathematics. At Constantinople, also (where he studied the Cabala), he associated chiefly with the Karaites. Going by way of Wallachia and Moldavia, he visited Poland and Lithuania. At Wilna he was engaged as physician to Prince Radziwill (c. 1620). The appearance in Wilna of a man with such a versatile intellect was a rare event. Among his pupils here was Moses ben Meïr of Metz. A Karaite, Zerah ben Nathan of Troki, addressed to Delmedigo a number of questions on scientific subjects, the answers to which constitute his ‘Elim.’ After a few years in Lithuania and Poland, Delmedigo went to Hamburg, where he officiated as rabbi or preacher to the newly established Sephardic community. An epidemic compelled him to move to Glückstadt; from there he went to Amsterdam, where he officiated as rabbi for a few years. About 1630 he settled in Frankfort-on-the-Main, and in 1631 became a communal physician. He finally, about 1648, settled in Prague, and resided there until his death» (da Richard Gottheil – Isaac Broydé, voce Delmedigo, Joseph Solomon della Jewish Encyclop., http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=228&letter=D&search=delmedigo).

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