Profile Author:
Mikkel Munthe Jensen
Last Update:
2026-04-29
Status:
In progress
Rachel, Samuel (* 1628.04.06 † 1691.12.13)
Basic Overview Data
Biographical and Intellectual Profile
Biography
Forthcoming
Comment on main natural law works
Forthcoming
Comment on profile’s conception of natural law
Forthcoming
Biographical Data
Education
1637 - 1639, Husum School
1639 - 1648, Bordesholm Gymnasium
1648.04.12 - 1651, Philosophy, theology, history and jurisprudence, University of Rostock [Theology: Caspar Mauritius, Michael Cobabus. Jurisprudence: Heinrich Schuckmann, Nicolaus Schütze, Heinrich Rahne and Joachim Snobel]
1651.02.06 - 1652, History and jurisprudence, University of Jena [Daniel Stahl]
1654.11.29 - 1656, Jurisprudence, University of Helmstedt [Hermann Conring, Georg Calixtus, Christoph Schrader]
Degrees
1666.01.22, Doctor of law, University of Kiel
Teaching
1665-1677, Winter and summer semesters, "Natural and universal law, Ius Belli ac Pacis according to Hugo Grotius", public lecture courses, Faculty of Law, University of Kiel (In 1675, Rachel offered a private lecture course on natural law)
Career
1652 - 1652, Hofmeister (Private teacher), House of Ranzau
1653 - 1654, Teacher, Bordesholm Gymnasium
1654.04.xx - 1656, Hofmeister (Private teacher), House of von Streithorst
1657 - 1658, Diplomatic secretary, Johannes Schwatzkopf to Braunschweig
1658 - 1665, Ordinary professor of moral philosophy, University of Helmstedt, Faculty of Philosophy
1665 - 1680, Ordinary professor of law of nature and nations, University of Kiel, Faculty of Law
1666 - 1680, First librarian, University of Kiel
1680 - 1684, Staller (District magistrate), Eiderstedt
1689 - 1691, Staller (District magistrate), Eiderstedt
Titles, Memberships and Other Relevant Roles
1677, Herzoglicher Rat (Ducal councillor), Court of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp
Bibliographical Data
Printed Sources
Books
[Editor of] Aristotelis Ethicorum ad Nicomachum Libri Decem (Helmstedt: Müller, 1660): Digital version
[Editor of] Veterum scholiastarum Graecorum Eustratii, Aspasii, Michaelis ephesii aliorumue commentationes eruditissimae in Aristotelis opus Ethicum ad Nicomachum, ex translatione Jo. Bernardi Feliciani, dudum a Doctis desideratae, adeoq[ue] nunc denuo in commodiore (Helmstedt: Müller, 1662): Digital version
Examen probabilitatis quam jesuitae novique casuistae theologiae suae moralis fundamentum constituerunt (Helmstedt: Müller, 1664): Digital version
[Editor of] Romanorum Germanorumque caesarum nominum, successionum et seculorum a nato Christo distincta Notatio, metro compendiosè descripta, addita succincta explanation (Helmstedt: Müller, 1664): Digital version
[Editor of] Blaise Pascal: Ludovici Montaltii litteræ provinciales de morali & politica jesuitarum disciplina: a Wilhelmo Wendrockio salisburgensi theologo, e Gallicâ in Latinam linguam translatæ et theologicis notis illustratæ, quibus tum jesuitarum adversus montaltium criminate (Helmstedt: Müller, 1664).
[Contributor to] Cäso Gramm: Chilonium novus Holsatiæ parnassus (Kiel: Holvvein, 1665): Digital version
[Editor of] Marcus Tillius Cicero: De officiis libre tres (Kiel, Frankfurt am Main: Gerlach, Beckenstein, Fievet, 1668).
Tractatus de duellis: Mantissae loco, praeter alia quaedam, accessit S. Caes. Maiestatis, ad S. R. Imp. ordinum illustrissimos legatos comitiis ratisbonensibus iam congregatos, super Duellis (Lübeck: Wettstein, Nissen, 1670).
[Contributor to] Johann Fuchs: De inventario tractatus brevis ubi dilucidè materia inventationis ad praxin hodiernam ex probatissimis Dd. & observantia quotidiana docetur (Kiel: Beckenstein, Gerlach, Reumann: 1672).
[Contributor to] Exercitationum variarum iuris publici Romano-Germanici volumen novum (Görlitz, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Rudolstadt: Kästner, Freyschmidt, 1675): Digital version
Rendsburgensia inter Serenißimum & Potentißimum Principem Ac Dominum, Dn. Christianum V. Daniæ & Norvagiæ Regem &c.&c.&c. & Reverendißimum Dn. Christianum Albertvm, Ducem Slesvici & Holsatiæ Gottorpiensem &c.&c.&c. a. d. X. Julii Anno cIɔ IɔcLXXV. Quo, (1677): Digital version
- [German Translation] Rendsburgische gantz nichtige Pacten, welche zwischen Christian V., König zu Dennemarck Norwegen und dem Christian Albrecht Hertzogen zu Schleßwig-Holstein-Gottorff etc. den 10. Julii Anno 1675 vermeintlich auffgerichtet seyn, (1677): Digital version
De jure naturæ et gentium dissertationes, (Kiel: Reumann, 1676): Digital version
Responnsio amici ad amicum, qua memoriale a Gottorpiensibus Ablegatis D. 20. Dec. A. 1678. Noviomagi exhibitum, vindicator, (Haag: 1679).
Apologia Causae Et Scriptorum Gottorpiensium (1679).
Introductio ad jus publicum Germanicum præcipuos maxim`e e`o facientes scriptores exhibens (Amsterdam: 1680).
Institutionum iurisprudentiae libri quatuor: Ius universale & Romanum certa methodo, & utriusque capita ex genuinis principiis arcessita exhibentes (Kiel: Reumann, 1681).
Otium noviomagense: in delineanda introductione ad jus publicum Germanicum; ejusque præcipuis scriptoribus enarrandis occupatum (Kiel: Wetstein, 1685).
Ausführlich in der Theologie und denen Rechten wohl-begründetes Bedencken über zwo Haupt-Fragen I. Ob die gewaltsame Occupirung deß Hertzogthums Schleßwig, welche den 30. May 1684 vorgenommen könne justificiret und behauptet werden?, (1685)
Dissertations
Positiones miscellae, quae consensu venerandi philosophorum ordinis (Rostock: Keil, 1649), [Praeses: Johannes Vorst, Respondent: Samuel Rachel]: Digital version
Peri akusiu kai ekusiu, de invite & sponte facto (Rostock: Richel, 1650), [Praeses: Johannes Vorst, Respondent: Samuel Rachel]: Digital version
Exercitatio ethica de Aequitate (Helmstedt: Calixtinum, 1658), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Andreas Cassius]: Digital version
Diatribe moralis de morte voluentaria, Graecis dicta autocheiria (Helmstedt: Taeger, 1659), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Anton Raumburger]: Digital version
Dissertatio moralis de principiis actionum humanarum (Helmstedt: Müller, 1660), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Daniel Nessel].
Disquisitio philosophica de poenis (Helmstedt: Müller, 1661), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Henning Friedrich von Damm].
Exercitatio moralis peri euphyias, seu de bona indole (Helmstedt: Henning Müller, 1661), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Georg Levin Hantelmann].
Disputatio moralis de scientia et ignorantia incontinentis (Helmstedt: Müller, 1661), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Bender von Bienenthal].
De actionum moralium principio disputatio prima (Helmstedt: Müller, 1662), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Georg Heinrich Fischer].
Disputatio prima de honesto in genere (Helmstedt: Müller, 1662), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Georg Werner Grote].
Justa viro perillustri (Kiel: Reumann, 1662), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Bartramo Poguiskio].
Disputatio de primis societatibus naturalibus, earumque iusto (Helmstedt: Heitmüller, 1662), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Rudolph Busso Schencke].
Dissertatio academica de iure naturae (Helmstedt: Henning Müller, 1664), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Ephraim Jonathan Raumer]: Digital version
Disputatio politica de maiestate (Helmstedt: Heitmüller, 1664), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Andreas Koch]: Digital version
Exercitatio moralis de justitia (Helmstedt: Müller, 1664), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Georg Germer]: Digital version
Dissertatio politica de sophismatibus (Helmstedt: 1665), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Johann Dencker].
Disputatio politica de praecipuis quibusdam consultationis capitibus, bello et pace, importandis et exportandis, custodia regionis, et legislation (Helmstedt: Müller, 1665), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Albert Rachel].
Disputatio juridica de securitate publica (Kiel: 1666), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Nicolaus Boye]: Digital version
Disputationem juridicam inauguralem de duellis (Kiel: Reumann, 1666), [Praeses: Erich Mauritius, Respondent: Samuel Rachel]: Digital version
Dissertatio ex iure naturae & gentium de monarcharum In genere, nec non monarcharum Europaeorum Christianorum in specie, mutua obligatione (Kiel: Reumann, 1670), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Hans Hinrich von Ahlefeldt]: Digital version
Exercitatio academica de jure in genere (Kiel: Reumann, 1670), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Johan Bambamius]: Digital version
Compendium juris controversi, continens theses & antitheses C C, ex jure civili Romanorum juxta seriem digestorum, quibus sub juncta sunt corollaria ex jure naturae, gentium, publico, canonico, feudali & saxonico, desumpta (Kiel: Reumann, 1671), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Johann Diedrich von Gülich]: Digital version
Exercitatio juris naturalis & civilis Ro. de Aequitate (Kiel: Reumann, 1671), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Wolfgang Ludemann].
Dissertatio juris publici, de comitiis electoralibus quae dicuntur ChurFürsten-Täge/Collegial-Täge (Kiel: Reumann, 1671), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Tobias Friedrich Linck]: Digital version
- Edition 1697
- Edition 1747 (Wittenberg: Hake).
Disputatio inauguralis juridica, de injuriis & earum actionibus (Kiel: Reumann, 1672), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Johann Philipp Rosmann]: Digital version
Disputationem iuridicam de iure arbitrario in genere (Kiel: Reumann, 1673), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Christianus von Eitzen]: Digital version
Exercitationem juridicam de jure gentium (Kiel: Reumann, 1673), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Jacob Siverts].
Disputatio iuridica de revisionibus (Kiel: Joachim Reumann, 1674), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Friedrich Adolph Hansen]: Digital version
Diss. juris publ. de capitulatione regni Germanici, vulgo Kayserl. Wahl-Capitulation (Kiel: Reumann, 1675), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Otto Nicol Lindholtz]: Digital version
Exercitatio academica de iustitia universali (Kiel: Reumann, 1675), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Gajus Heinrich Nährmann]: Digital version
De beneficio competentiae (Kiel: Reumann, 1677), [Praeses: Samuel Rachel, Respondent: Erich Tilemann Becker]: Digital version
Ego-Documents and Biographical Materials
Samuel Rachel and Henning Ratjen: "Samuel Rachel, Autobiographie desselben, mitgetheilt von Herrn Professor und Bibliothekar Ratjen" in Archiv für Staats- und Kirchengeschichte der Herzogtümer Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg, ed. Andreas L. J. Michelsen and Jacob Asmussen (Altona: J. F. Hammerich, 1833), p. 335-382.
Samuel Rachel and Henning Ratjen: "Samuel Rachel, Autobiographie desselben, mitgetheilt von Herrn Professor und Bibliothekar Ratjen. Fortsetzung" in Archiv für Staats- und Kirchengeschichte der Herzogtümer Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg, ed. Andreas L. J. Michelsen and Jacob Asmussen (Altona: J. F. Hammerich, 1837), p. 99-166.
Manuscript Sources
Ego-Documents and Biographical Materials
Rachel has left a detailed autobiography (manuscript): Curriculum vitae ab ipso conscriptum (40 sheets). A transcript by O. H. Moller is held in the University Library of Kiel. Archival Reference: S. H. 170 (Ratjen, Handschriftenverzeichn. I, 283).
Natural Law Network
Personal Connections
1654, Herman Conring, Helmstedt
1665, Daniel Georg Morhof, Kiel [Colleague at University of Kiel]
1671, Nicolaus Martini, Kiel [Colleague at University of Kiel]
1673, Samuel Reyher, Kiel [Colleague at University of Kiel]
References and Acknowledgement
Profile References
Literature
Carstens, Carsten Erich: "Rachel, Samuel" in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 27 (1888), p. 104-105: Digital version
Volbehr, Friedrich & Richard Weyl: Professoren und Dozenten der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel 1665-1915 (Kiel: Schmidt & Klaunig, 1916) p. 24, 174.
Sources
Matriculation (Jena): Matrikel der Universität Jena 1615 - 1652 [Jena Universitätsarchiv], p. 179r; URL: https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00270354/Ms-Prof-f-110_0362.tif?logicalDiv=jportal_jparticle_00678589
Matriculation (Helmstedt): Die Matrikel der Universität Helmstedt, Bd. 2, 1636 – 1685, ed. Werner Hillebrand, (Hildesheim: Lax, 1981), [Online edition], p. 105; PURL: http://diglib.hab.de/drucke/f4f-211-2b/start.htm
Portrait: Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel; Bilddatei: haba-17124, URL: http://www.portraitindex.de/documents/obj/34028506
Samuel Rachel and Henning Ratjen: "Samuel Rachel, Autobiographie desselben, mitgetheilt von Herrn Professor und Bibliothekar Ratjen" in Archiv für Staats- und Kirchengeschichte der Herzogtümer Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg, ed. Andreas L. J. Michelsen and Jacob Asmussen (Altona: J. F. Hammerich, 1833), p. 335-382.
Samuel Rachel and Henning Ratjen: "Samuel Rachel, Autobiographie desselben, mitgetheilt von Herrn Professor und Bibliothekar Ratjen. Fortsetzung" in Archiv für Staats- und Kirchengeschichte der Herzogtümer Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg, ed. Andreas L. J. Michelsen and Jacob Asmussen (Altona: J. F. Hammerich, 1837), p. 99-166.
Acknowledgement
Profile Author:
Mikkel Munthe Jensen
Profile Contributor
-
How to Cite This Profile
Jensen, Mikkel Munthe, "Samuel Rachel" in Natural Law 1625-1850: Database, ed. Mikkel Munthe Jensen (Erfurt, Gotha, Jena: ThULB, 2019-), Canonical URL: https://naturallawdatabase.thulb.uni-jena.de/item/natlaw_23