born in Staffelstein

arrived in Erfurt

first mentioned as Rechenmeister (master arithmetician) in Erfurt
Owned and lead a school for arithmetics in Erfurt and later

in Annaberg where he went for to teach in in the silver mining areas. He published several schoolbooks about arithmetics (the first in Germany). His second book was published in at least 108 editions until the seventeenth century. His most scientific book "Coss" (from the Latin 'cosa' - 'the unknown') about geometric algebra was not published during his life, but for the first time in 1992.
In addition to being a teacher he worked as a civil servant for the Annaberg Department of Mining (and was also simultaneously employed in the silver mines!). In

he became Rezeß-Schreiber (Auditor) where he had to control the accuracy of the of the silver mines' accounting. In

he received the title of Royal Saxony Court Arithmetician.

Adam Ries died in Annaberg

The Adam Ries Heritage Trust maintains a museum dedicated to his memory and works.