Polykarp Leyser II (20 November 1586, Wittenberg - 15 January 1633, Leipzig) was a German Lutheran theologian and superintendent in Leipzig.
Lesyer became Professor of Theology at Wittenberg in 1610; he stayed there for three years, then became Professor of Theology at Leipzig, a post which he held until his death.
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Life
Provenance
His father Polykarp Leyser the Elder, was a theologian. His mother was Elisabeth, daughter of the painter Lucas Cranach the Younger. Two of his brothers, Friedrich and Wilhelm, were also theologians.
Family
He was the father of nine recorded children, most of whom became theologians. His son, Johann Leyser, 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.