Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sempill, Hugh

by Thompson Cooper

SEMPILL or SEMPLE, HUGH, Hugo Sempilius (1596–1654), mathematician, born at Craigevar in Scotland in 1596, was nephew of Colonel William Sempill [q. v.] He was aggregated to the Society of Jesus at Toledo in 1615, and became rector of the Scottish College at Madrid, where he died on 29 Sept. 1654.

He was the author of: 1. ‘De Mathematicis Disciplinis lib. XII, in quibus earum utilitas, dignitas, natura, divisio explicantur,’ Antwerp, 1635, fol. (dedicated to Philip IV, king of Spain). 2. ‘Experientia Mathematica, de compositione numerorum, linearum quadratorum, &c.,’ Madrid, 1642, 8vo. 3. ‘Dictionarium Mathematicum,’ which was prepared for the press but never published.

The following manuscripts by him are preserved in the National Library at Madrid: ‘Historia de regimine Philippi IV’ (G. 73); ‘Parecer sobre el riego de los prados de Aranjuez y lugares vecinos, en tiempo de Felipe IV;’ ‘Parecer sobre las señales que se vieron en el cielo, año 1637’ (S. 104); ‘Discurso contra los ministros codiciosos.’

[Catholic Miscellany, ix. 40; De Backer's Bibl. de la Compagnie de Jésus (1876), ii. 755; Foley's Records; vii. 697; Leith's Narratives of Scottish Catholics, p. 372; Oliver's Jesuit Collections, p. 37; Southwell's Bibl. Script. Soc. Jesu, p. 354; Stothert's Catholic Mission in Scotland, p. 611.]

T. C.