Polykarp Leyser II (20 November 1586, Wittenberg - 15 January 1633, Leipzig) was a German Lutheran theologian and superintendent in Leipzig. He was professor of theology since 1613. Life Provenance His father Polykarp Leyser the Elder, was a theologian. His mother was Elisabeth, daughter of the painter Lucas Cranach the Younger. Family He was the father of nine recorded children, most of whom became theologians. His son, , was also a theologian, but found himself cut off from his family for his controversial defense of polygamy. One of Polykarp's sons, however, Michael Leyser became a physician and anatomist, making important contributions to documenting the medical advances of the time, notably in respect of the Lymphatic system. His grandson Polykarp Leyser III and his great-grandson Polykarp Leyser IV were all also theologians. References Bibliography Biography in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Erdmann Hannibal Albrecht: Sächsische evangelisch-luther’sche Kirchen- und Predigengeschichte, von ihrem Ursprung an die bis auf gegenwärtige Zeiten. Leipzig 1799, S. 61, (GoogleBooks) German Lutheran theologians 17th-century German Lutheran clergy 17th-century German Protestant theologians People from Wittenberg 1586 births 1633 deaths German male non-fiction writers 17th-century German writers 17th-century German male writers