Overdatz, Louis

(1618-after 1682)

   Louis Overdatz was born on 1 May 1618 in Enghien into an influential family, which counted several members who held municipal offices in Brussels. He studied in Leuven at the university and obtained a degree in medicine in 1640. Overdatz built a flourishing practice in Brussels and, intent on establishing standards for the profession, he secured permission from city authorities in November 1648 to found a school of medicine. Governor-general Francisco de Moura-Corteréal employed him as his preferred physician. Overdatz worked tirelessly to combat the plague that struck the city in 1667-1668 and his observations were later published. His work led to his ennoblement by King Charles II on 20 July 1677. Because of a gap in the death records of the parish of Sainte-Gudule between 1683 and 1694 it is not possible to determine the exact date of his death.