Cornelius Van Allen Van Dyck
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Van Alen Van Dyck, M.D. (August 13, 1818 – November 13, 1895) was an American
missionary
and translator of the Bible into Arabic.
He was born at Kinderhook, NY
, and educated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia
, from which he graduated as M.D. in 1839. In 1840 he was sent to Lebanon
by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as a medical missionary for the Dutch Reformed Church, and was stationed at Beirut
, Abeih, Sidon
, and Mount Tabor. He studied Arabic in Beirut under Butrus al-Bustani and Nasif al-Yaziji, both of whom later became famous Arab writers, and Yusuf al-Asir, with whom he would later collaborate in translating the Bible into Arabic. He married Julia Abbott, daughter of the former British consul-general in Beirut, in December 1842. In June 1843 they moved to 'Abeih, where he organized a secondary school for training evangelical ministers. Noting the scarcity of suitable teaching materials in Arabic, he proceeded to write Arabic textbooks on geography, navigation, natural history, and mathematics, which were long used in Syrian schools. He also studied theology and was ordained a minister by his fellow missionaries in 1846, shortly before the inauguaration of the Abeih Seminary. In 1849 he was abruptly transferred from 'Abeih to Sidon, where he was expected to open a new mission station, preach, and practice medicine. Upon returning to Beirut in 1857, he began to work on the Arabic Bible. After completing the translation in 1865, he went to New York to supervise its printing, also teaching Hebrew for two years at Union Theological Seminary and studying ophthalmology.
On returning to Beirut, Van Dyck became a professor of pathology and internal medicine in the medical school of the newly flounded Syrian Protestant College, which later became the American University of Beirut
. He also taught astronomy in its literary section, directed its observatory and meteorological station as well as the mission press, and edited its weekly journal al-Nashran. He wrote Arabic textbooks on chemistry, internal medicine, physical diagnosis, and astronomy, publishing some of them at his own expense. He translated al-Razi's ninth-century treatise on smallpox and measles, adding a critical commentary. Often called al-Hakim
during his lifetime, Van Dyck had a large medical practice in addition to his academic duties.
He resigned from the Syrian Protestant College after the 1882 commencement address was censored by the college authorities for favoring Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. He stayed in Beirut, practicing at the Hospital of St. George and publishing more books in Arabic, including a translation of Lew Wallace
's Ben Hur. In 1890 Syrians of all sects celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his coming to their country. He retired in 1893 and died in Beirut.
Van Dyck has long been respected by Arabs for his intimate knowledge of their history, culture, language, and proverbs, for his ability to work among Syrians without condescension, and especially for his contribution to the revival of Arabic literature in the nineteenth century. Modern scholars give more credit for this renaissance to the Egyptian government and to some of Van Dyck's Arab collaborators, but he published more than twenty Arabic textbooks, and his translation of the Bible was used by Arabic-speaking Protestants for a century. Rue Van Dyck
is a street in Beirut that was named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and translator of the Bible into Arabic.
He was born at Kinderhook, NY
Kinderhook (town), New York
Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,296 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers . The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also...
, and educated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, from which he graduated as M.D. in 1839. In 1840 he was sent to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions as a medical missionary for the Dutch Reformed Church, and was stationed at Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Abeih, Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, and Mount Tabor. He studied Arabic in Beirut under Butrus al-Bustani and Nasif al-Yaziji, both of whom later became famous Arab writers, and Yusuf al-Asir, with whom he would later collaborate in translating the Bible into Arabic. He married Julia Abbott, daughter of the former British consul-general in Beirut, in December 1842. In June 1843 they moved to 'Abeih, where he organized a secondary school for training evangelical ministers. Noting the scarcity of suitable teaching materials in Arabic, he proceeded to write Arabic textbooks on geography, navigation, natural history, and mathematics, which were long used in Syrian schools. He also studied theology and was ordained a minister by his fellow missionaries in 1846, shortly before the inauguaration of the Abeih Seminary. In 1849 he was abruptly transferred from 'Abeih to Sidon, where he was expected to open a new mission station, preach, and practice medicine. Upon returning to Beirut in 1857, he began to work on the Arabic Bible. After completing the translation in 1865, he went to New York to supervise its printing, also teaching Hebrew for two years at Union Theological Seminary and studying ophthalmology.
On returning to Beirut, Van Dyck became a professor of pathology and internal medicine in the medical school of the newly flounded Syrian Protestant College, which later became the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
. He also taught astronomy in its literary section, directed its observatory and meteorological station as well as the mission press, and edited its weekly journal al-Nashran. He wrote Arabic textbooks on chemistry, internal medicine, physical diagnosis, and astronomy, publishing some of them at his own expense. He translated al-Razi's ninth-century treatise on smallpox and measles, adding a critical commentary. Often called al-Hakim
Hakim (title)
' and ' are two Arabic titles derived from the same triliteral ḤKM "appoint, choose, judge". Compare the Hebrew title hakham.-Hakīm :...
during his lifetime, Van Dyck had a large medical practice in addition to his academic duties.
He resigned from the Syrian Protestant College after the 1882 commencement address was censored by the college authorities for favoring Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. He stayed in Beirut, practicing at the Hospital of St. George and publishing more books in Arabic, including a translation of Lew Wallace
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
's Ben Hur. In 1890 Syrians of all sects celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his coming to their country. He retired in 1893 and died in Beirut.
Van Dyck has long been respected by Arabs for his intimate knowledge of their history, culture, language, and proverbs, for his ability to work among Syrians without condescension, and especially for his contribution to the revival of Arabic literature in the nineteenth century. Modern scholars give more credit for this renaissance to the Egyptian government and to some of Van Dyck's Arab collaborators, but he published more than twenty Arabic textbooks, and his translation of the Bible was used by Arabic-speaking Protestants for a century. Rue Van Dyck
Rue Van Dyck
Rue Van Dyck is a street in Beirut, Lebanon. The street, which is located in the Ras Beirut district, was named after Cornelius Van Allen Van Dyck, who was professor of pathology and internal medicine in the medical school at the American University of Beirut from 1857 until 1882. The street runs...
is a street in Beirut that was named in his honor.
Sources
Jefferson Alumni photo- Goldschmidt, Arthur. "Van Dyck, Cornelius Van Alen," American National Biography. available online at http://www.anb.org/articles/20/20-01044.html.
- al-Muqattam (Cairo daily newspaper), November 16, 1895.
- Penrose, Stephen B. That They May Have Life: The Story of the American University of Beirut, 1866-1941 (1941), pp. 36-37.
- Tibawi, A. L. American Interests in Syria, 1800-1901 (1966).
- Sarkis, Yusuf. Mu'jam al-Matbu'at al-'arabiyah wa al-mu'arrabah, Vol. 2 (1928), cols. 1462-4.
- Zaydan, Jurji. Tarajim mashahir al-sharq, vol. 2 (1903), pp. 39-53.
- al-Zirikli, Khayr al-Din, al-A'lam, 4th ed. (1980), vol. 5, p. 223.