( 1200-80 )

Albert the Great was known by his Latin name, Albertus Magnus. He was Thomas Aquinas's teacher, and one of the Church's greatest intellects. He was born in Swabia, near Ulm. He joined the Dominicans while studying at the University of Padua in 1223. He taught at Hildesheim, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Regensburg, and other cities. He later  taught at the University of Paris, where he received his doctorate in 1245. In 1248 Albert organized the Dominican house of studies at Cologne. After serving as prior, and as Master of the Sacred Palace ( the pope's personal theologian), against his will, he was appointed bishop of Regensburg in 1260. Because of serious problems in the diocese, he resigned to devote himself once again to teaching and writing in Cologne.

 He was among the first and greatest of the natural scientists, gaining a reputation for expertise in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geography, metaphysics, and mathematics. He was also very learned in biblical studies and theology. His contemporaries gave him the title "the Great" and also referred to him as the "Universal Doctor." Albert's health began to fail in 1278, then he died in 1280. He was buried in the Dominican church in Cologne.

He was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students of the natural sciences in 1931

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