Galileo gets a pay rise

On 24 August 1609, just over 400 years ago, Galileo visited the Ducal Palace in Venice to present a spyglass (telescope) to the Doge. At this date Galileo has yet to turn his telescope to the heavens. His accompanying letter assigned the copyright to the Venetian Republic. He explained that the spyglass could be used tosee approaching enemy boats at muchgreater distance thanbyeye alone, allowing more time "for engagement, pursuit or flight".

The chairmanship of the Venetian Senate rotated weekly. One of Galileo's chums had the chair that week. In 1608 he had the University of Padua increase Galileo's salary from 160 florins to 320 florins a year payable in advance. On 25 August this influential supporter, Antonio Priuli, had the Senate grant Galileo tenure for life, and an increase in salary from 320 florins to 1000 florins, the highest salary the university ever paid to a professor of mathematics

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