Michiel Coignet

Michiel Coignet (also Quignet, Cognet or Connette in Italian) (Antwerp, 1549 - Antwerp, 24 December 1623) was a Flemish polymath who made significant contributions to various disciplines including cosmography, mathematics, navigation and cartography. He also built new and improved scientific instruments and made military engineering designs.

Coignet was a scientist at the court of the governors of the Spanish Netherlands Albert VII, Archduke of Austria and Isabella Clara Eugenia where he held a position similar to that of his compatriot Simon Stevin at the rival court of Maurice, Prince of Orange.

Michiel Coignet’s father Gillis (also known as Egidius) was a goldsmith and maker of astronomical and mathematical instruments in Antwerp and was married to Brigitte Anthonis Hendriksd. Michiel’s brother Jacob III became a physician while his brother Gillis I became a painter. Michiel’s father died in 1562-1563. The details on Michiel’s education are scarce. He was admitted to the St Ambrose Guild of School Teachers in 1568. He taught French and mathematics. It is likely that at the time he started working as a teacher he had already studied higher mathematics since the mathematics class he taught was referred to as ‘mathematicam’ whereas lower mathematics was referred to as ‘cijfferen’ (calculation).

He married Maria vanden Eynde c. 1570 and the couple would have 10 children. Only their son Antonius was still alive at the time of his death. In 1572-73 Michiel Coignet was appointed by the city as ‘wijnroeier’ (‘wine gauger’). The wijnroeier was a municipal employee tasked with measuring the wine barrels that arrived in the city in order to calculate the taxes due. From the year 1572 also dates Michiel’s first signed instrument, an astrolabium. This is an indication that his mother likely kept her deceased husband’s workshop in operation until her son could become a master of the Guild of Saint Luke. Michiel became a member of the Guild as the son of a member in 1581 and became a full master in 1589 after a period of apprenticeship. He also became a member of the Guild of Meerse, which was the guild of the shopkeepers and wine gaugers.

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