John Wolfgang Rumler facts for kids

John Wolfgang Rumler (died around 1650) was a German doctor and pharmacist. He lived in Augsburg, Germany. He was known for his medical notes called Observationes medicae. Later, he worked for the English royal family. He served Prince Henry, Queen Anne, King James, and King Charles I. Rumler is also credited with making a special kind of theatrical grease-paint. This paint was used to darken actors' faces.

Early Life and Studies

John Wolfgang Rumler was the son of Macharius Rumler. His father was a schoolmaster in Augsburg. His mother was Anna Gasser. She was the daughter of a doctor and astrologer named Achilles Gasser. We don't know exactly when John Wolfgang Rumler was born. He had a brother, Johann Udalric Rumler, who was also a doctor and writer. Sometimes, John Wolfgang was called "Master Wolf."

Rumler studied at different universities in Germany and Italy. He received support from Raymund Fugger. Fugger was an important count from the wealthy Fugger family. Rumler earned his medical degree (MD) from Caspar Bauhin in Basel.

Medical Career and Royal Service

Rumler worked for over 33 years at the city hospital in Augsburg. He wrote down 100 medical cases. These notes were called Observationes medicae. Some of these cases were recorded between 1585 and 1595. Some of his observations were very important for medicine. For example, Observatio 46 described a heart block. Observatio 81 described an aortic aneurysm. In this note, he even mentioned a letter from Vesalius to his grandfather, Achilles Gasser.

On July 24, 1604, Rumler received a special permission from the king. This allowed him to be the pharmacist for Prince Henry. He was often called to treat important patients outside of town. One of these was Anne of Denmark, the Queen. On November 26, 1604, she asked him to provide sweet powders, waters, and perfumes. He also became the official pharmacist for both the English King and Queen. For this, he received an annual payment of £40 for each job. In 1606, Rumler sent a bill for perfumes and rosewater. These were supplied to Prince Henry over three years. The Queen's physician, Martin Schöner, approved this bill.

On June 25, 1609, Rumler married Anna de l'Obel. She was from Middelburg, Zeeland. Anna was the daughter of Matthias de l'Obel, a Flemish doctor and botanist. They married in London at the Huguenot French Protestant Church. In July 1610, Rumler and his wife became English citizens. Other members of the Queen's household also became citizens at this time. These included Dorothea Silking and her sister Engella Seelken. Katherine Benneken and Martin Schöner were also naturalized. Anna Rumler (1576-1661) married the Queen's page, Pierre Hugon. She might have been John Wolfgang Rumler's sister. She attended Queen Anne of Denmark's funeral in 1619.

In 1617, Rumler traveled to Scotland with King James. He went as far as Aberdeen. There, he and other courtiers became official citizens of the town. These courtiers included Edward Zouch, George Goring, and Archibald Armstrong.

When Queen Anne of Denmark was very ill, she sent a portrait of herself to Rumler's brother. His brother was Johann Udalricus Rumler, a doctor in Augsburg. She sent a letter in Italian asking for medical advice. She also sent a small medical cabinet. John Wolf Rumler took part in Queen Anne of Denmark's funeral procession in 1619.

Working for the Royal Family

Rumler wrote to King James about George Shires. Shires was a former servant of Master Morgan, another pharmacist to Queen Anne. Rumler claimed that Shires had lied about his skills. He said Shires wanted to become the "Sergeant of the Confectionary." Rumler thought Shires would try to take over some of his duties. After another pharmacist, John Clavie, died in 1607, the King had given Rumler his role. Rumler's letter was quite funny. He called Shires a "crafty fox." He insisted that he, the "Wolf," should be rewarded. He felt he should not have to compete to supply the royal family.

In 1624, Rumler and Dr. James Chalmers, a Scottish court physician, visited an inn near Kenilworth Castle. They were upset because there was no food or drink. They made some comments about burning the inn's sign. A person nearby, Gilbert Tonckes, criticized hospitality in Scotland. Rumler and Chalmers, who worked for the Scottish King James, did not like this. The argument continued later that evening. Rumler and Chalmers were with Prince Charles at Kenilworth. This was when Ben Jonson's play, Masque of Owls, was performed.

Later, Rumler supplied perfumes and waters to King Charles I. He also supplied them to Queen Henrietta Maria and their children. He took over this role from Jolliffe Lownes. On December 18, 1626, he was officially appointed to provide "perfumes, sweet powders, and other odoriferous things" to Queen Henrietta Maria. In 1633, Rumler and William Harvey attended King Charles at Newmarket.

Rumler became one of the first members of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.

Theatrical Makeup and The Gypsies Metamorphosed

In 1621, Ben Jonson wrote a play called The Gypsies Metamorphosed. In the play's "Windsor Epilogue," it mentions that Rumler provided makeup. This makeup was used to darken the actors' faces. He was called "Master Wolf." He was also described as a "mere barber."

The play was put on by George Villiers. It celebrated his marriage to Lady Katherine Manners. It was first performed at Burley-on-the-Hill. It was also shown at Belvoir Castle and Windsor Castle. The "Gypsies" in the play were people from the Scottish borders. Rumler's new "ointment" was washed off the actors' faces. This revealed their true noble identities. This special theatrical makeup is seen as an early step in the development of blackface.