Dee Dr John

Dee, Dr. John (1527-1608), alchemist and astrologer, born in London and educated at Chelmsford and St. John's College, Cambridge, and becoming Fellow of Trinity. He studied mechanics and astrology, and between 1548-89 travelled a good deal abroad, especially in Germany and Hungary. He received ecclesiastical preferment from Edward VI., but in 1555 was charged with compassing Queen Mary's death by magic. He was, however, acquitted, and "Queen Elizabeth had a great regard for him, and made him her astrologer, besides visiting him. He appears to have been duped by his assistant into an idea that he had found the elixir of life and had intercourse with spirits, and he searched for the philosopher's stone. He died in poverty at Mortlake, and was buried there. Most of his works are still in MSS. at the British Museum and at Oxford and Cambridge. Besides his astrological works, he wrote on logic, geography, and navigation, and made some steps towards reforming the calendar.