Johannes Goddaeus

He was originally intended to take over his father's business, but showed his scholarly ability very early, and his parents allowed him to attend school from 1568 at Dortmund, where he learned Latin, Greek and especially Hebrew.

From 1576 to 1578 he was employed as governor and private tutor of the son of the Vogt Friedrich von der Mark in Dortmund.

After his appointment as professor of law at the University of Heidelberg was blocked by enemies, he returned to Marburg in 1586 as a reader.

The following year the city council of Schwerte elected him mayor, but Goddaeus refused the position to continue his academic career.

He remained in Marburg until the end of his life even though he received a series of offers including professorships in Heidelberg, Helmstedt and Franeker, a post as syndicus (legal adviser) of the city of Bremen and in 1626 as royal councillor in Copenhagen.

He married in Herborn, on 25 April 1586, Catharina, daughter of Johann Salfeld, financial administrator of Marburg, by whom he had 7 children.