Johannes de Gorter had already developed a particular interest in medical subjects in his early youth. These interests were further developed in the young man by his teachers at the time, so that at the age of 19 he was admitted to practice as a surgeon in his birthplace. The famous name of Herman Boerhaave had awakened in him the desire to go to the University of Leiden. After further training in Greek and Latin, he was able to enter the university of his choice in October 1709 to devote himself to studying medicine. After three years he obtained his doctorate with the dissertation de Obstructione (Leiden 1712), then opened a practice in his home town and continued his medical studies. He also tried to apply various methods from other areas of physics and mathematics. He measured the human body, weighed it and carried out various experiments, which he published in 1725. On the recommendation of Boerhaave, he was appointed professor of medicine at the University of Harderwijk on June 13 of the same year. After much hesitation, he took up this post of pharmacologist, gave a solemn speech and was awarded the title of Doctor of Philosophy on October 15, 1726. During his 29-year term of office, the Hadarwijk University experienced a golden age. He corresponded with the famous scholars of his time and became known through his writings. This reputation also reached the Russian tsar's court. When Abraham Boerhaave (1668?1738) was no longer able to fulfil his duties, Tsarina Elisabeth wanted him to be his successor at the court in St. Petersburg. After initial hesitation, he agreed and moved to St. Petersburg with his two sons, a daughter and his wife on August 15, 1754, where he arrived on September 12. After some time in Petersburg, he began to show signs of increasing old age. His wife had died at that time and de Gorter was suffering from homesickness. He therefore expressed his wish to return to his homeland. This wish was granted, and in September 1758 he was able to set foot on native soil again. He spent four years with his children in Amsterdam, Enkhuizen and in Wijk near Duurstede, the last years of his life. He was last with his son David, who had returned from Russia, in Leiden, in whose arms he died. His main work, Medicina Hippocratica exponens aphorismos Hippocratis, is a comprehensive description of the practical medicine of his time, which he presented using the aphorisms of Hippocrates. His students included Carl von Linné, who received his doctorate in medicine under his supervision in 1735. Johannes de Gorter was a member of the Imperial Leopoldine-Carolinian Academy of Natural Scientists, a member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences and a member of the Society of Sciences in Haarlem. (source: Wikipedia)