Jan Šindel (1370s – between 1455 and 1457),^[1] also known asJan Ondřejův (Latin:Iohannes Andreae dictus Schindel orJoannes de Praga), was aCzech medievalscientist andCatholic priest. He was a professor atCharles University inPrague and became therector of the university in 1410. He lectured onmathematics andastronomy and was also a personal astrologer and physician of kingsWenceslaus IV of Bohemia and his brotherHoly Roman EmperorSigismund.^[1]

Jan Šindel was born inHradec Králové probably in the 1370s. As a young man he came to Prague to study at Charles University. In 1395 or 1399,^[1] he became the Master of Arts atPrague University. In 1406, he worked at the parish school of theSt. Nicolas Church inMalá Strana in Prague. Later he worked as a teacher of mathematics inVienna, where he also studied medicine. Then he came back to Prague and became the professor of astronomy at Charles University, where he became Doctor of Medicine and rector of the university in 1410.

At the beginning he was a supporter ofJohn Hus but later he stayedCatholic. He avoided religious disputes and preferred science.^[2] In 1418 he became acanon of PragueSt. VitusChapter. Because of theHussite Wars he had to leave Prague and came toOlomouc. In 1423–1436 he worked inNuremberg as a physician. In 1432, he became the personal physician of the EmperorSigismund. In 1441 he became thedean of theVyšehrad Chapter in Prague. He had a good relationship with Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (laterPope Pius II), their correspondence from the years 1445–1447 has been preserved.^{[citation needed]} He died probably between 1455 and 1457 in Prague.^[1]

Šindel's astronomical tables and maps were allegedly still used byTycho Brahe. He had a special liking for astronomical devices. Based on his suggestion and calculations,Mikuláš of Kadaň constructed thePrague Orloj clock in 1410.^[1] TheŠindel sequences in mathematics are named from the appearance of one of these sequences in this clock.^[3]

In 1982, an asteroid (3847 Šindel) was named after him.^[2]

• Šolcová, Alena (2009)."Jan Šindel – pravděpodobný autor matematického modelu pražského orloje".Pokroky Matematiky, Fyziky a Astronomie (in Czech).54 (4):307–317.

• 1370 births
• 1457 deaths
• Czech astronomers
• Academic staff of Charles University
• 15th-century physicians from the Holy Roman Empire
• 15th-century mathematicians
• 15th-century astronomers
• Physicians from medieval Bohemia
• Czech mathematicians

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