ALBERT, COUNT OF P.OLLSTXDT ( e. 1193 12S0). A German philosopher, usually called Al berths :Magnus, and styled Doctor Unirersalis, who was distinguished for the extent of hit ac quirements and for his efforts to spread knowl edge, especially of the works and doctrines of Aristotle. He was born at Lauingen, in Swabia, probably in 1193, hut the date is disputed. After studying principally at Padua, lie entered the or der of the Dominican friars in 1221 and taught at Bologna. Strassburg, Freiburg, and Cologne, where Thomas Aquinas became his pupil. He afterward repaired to Paris, where lie expounded the doctrines of Aristotle. In 1259 lie received from Pope Alexander IV. the bishopric of Ratis bon. But in 1202 he retired to a convent at Cologne to devote himself to literary pursuits. Here he composed a great number of works, es peeially commentaries on Aristotle. In 1270 he preached a crusade. He died November 25, 1280. The fullest edition of his works was prepared by Jammy (21 volumes, Lyons, 1651), but it is uncritical and far from complete. Many of the
writings attributed to him seem to be spurious. among others, that entitled be Scerctis er in, which was widely circulated during the Middle Ages. The extensive chemical and me chanical knowledge which Albert possessed, con sidering the age in which lie lived, brought upon him the imputation of sorcery, and in German tradition he has a very ambiguous reputation. It is related, for instance, that in the winter of 1240 lie gave a banquet at Cologne to William of Holland, King of the Romans, and that during the entertainment the wintry scene was suddenly transformed into one of summer bloom and beauty. This myth may rest on the fact that Albert had a greenhouse. The scholastics who followed Albert's opinions took the no me of Al bcrtists. His hest-known works are Sumtma The ologice and Summa de Creaturis.