Muzio Oddi

Muzio Oddi, also Mutio, born on 15 December 1569 and dead on 15 December 1639, was an Italian mathematician and gnomonist, born to Lisabetta Genga and Lattanzio Oddi. Trained first in eloquence and philosophy and later under the painter Federico Barocci, he moved to Pesaro to work under Guidobaldo del Monte, a main disciple of Federico Commandino, and was hired as a military engineer in Spain and France before returning to the Duchy of Urbino as engineer to Duke Francesco Maria II della Rovere. Accused in 1601 of involvement in a plot against the duke, he was released from prison in 1609 and exiled to Milan, where he won a competition to become professor of mathematics and published works prepared in prison, including De gli horologi solari nelle superficie piane of 1614 and Dello squadro of 1625 on surveyor's quadrants. From 1625 he was chief fortifications engineer to the Republic of Lucca.