First came Johannes Trithemius, a German abbot born in 1462, then Giovanni Porta, an Italian scientist born in 1535, and finally Blaise de Vigenère, a French diplomat born in 1523. Vigenère became acquainted with the writings of Alberti, Trithemius and Porta when, at the age of twenty-six, he was sent to Rome on a two-year diplomatic mission.
Vigenère was born in 1523, Porta in 1535. Therefore Porta is 12 years younger than Vigenère. When Vigenère was 26, Porta was 14. So, Vigenère became acquainted with Porta's writings when Porta was 14?
