Draft:Friedrich Beurhaus

Friedrich Beurhaus (10 November 1536 - 6 August 1609) was a German Humanist and Rector of the Gymnasien in Unna and Dortmund. He was a follower of the philosopher Petrus Ramus and the author of several philsophical works following and defending Ramus.

Life
Born in Immecke near Meinerzhagen, Beurhaus came from a family of iron and steel workers. He was the son of Tilemann Beurhaus and his wife Margaretha. He studied in schools in Meinerzhagen and Altena before moving to the Gymnasium in Dortmund, founded in 1543 by rector Johann Lambach, who turned it into a centre for followers of Ramus in the German-speaking lands. Other than a brief flight from the city to avoid a plague, Beurhaus remained in Dortmund until 1557, working as a tutor to children from noble families for seventeen years. Despite his Protestant origins, from 1555 he taught the children of Drost Friedrich von Fürstenberg, including the future landrost Kaspar, the future Prince-Bishop Dietrich and the future canon Friedrich. He also accompanied them to study at the University of Cologne, where Beurhaus himself studied under the philosopher and theologian Gerhard Mathisius.

In 1561 Beurhaus became lector of the fourth class at the Archigymnasium in Soest, before leaving that post to become rector at Unna in 1563, which he expanded. 1561 also saw his married to Sophia Braß and their descendants were ennobled - the family later contributed many other notable figures to Dortmund's civic life, such as local historian Johann Christoph Beurhaus (1722-?).

After student numbers at the Gymnasium in Dortmund dropped dramatically dropped due to the plague of 1567, he returned to the city as the Gymnasium's pro-rector. He rejected job offers from several other renowned schools over the following years, instead leading the Gymnasium to renewed renown. He became its con-rector in 1577 and rector in 1582 after his predecessor Lambach's death, holding the last of these posts until his death. He was also made a 'Comes Palatii Caesarei' (an honorary title) by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor. He died in Dortmund.