Adam Tanner

Title page of vol. 1 of Tanner's Universa Theologia Scholastica Adam Tanner (in Latin, Tannerus; April 14, 1572 – May 25, 1632) was an Austrian Jesuit theologian.

Teaching career

He was born in Innsbruck, Austria. In 1589 he joined the Society of Jesus and became a teacher. By 1603 he was invited to join the Jesuit College of Ingolstadt and take the chair of theology at the University of Ingolstadt. Fifteen years later he was given a position at the University of Vienna by the Emperor Matthias.

Theological work

He was noted for his defense of the Catholic church and their practices against Lutheran reformers, as well as the Utraquists. His greatest work was the Universa theologia scholastica, published in 1626–1627. These arguments were subsequently influential on his fellow Jesuit Friedrich Spee, another opponent of the witch hunts.

Death and controversy over his burial

He died in the village of Unken near Salzburg. His grave can no longer be located due to renovations to the church. According to legend, the villagers initially refused him a Christian burial because a microscope was found among his belongings containing a small hairy insect, which they took to be a "harry little imp." The microscope had been given to him by Christoph Scheiner.

Legacy

The crater Tannerus on the Moon is named after him.