Johann Heinrich Gelzer
Encyclopedia
Johann Heinrich Gelzer was a Swiss historian
and diplomat who was a native of Schaffhausen
. He was the father of philologist Heinrich Gelzer
(1847-1906).
He studied history and theology
at the Universities of Zurich
, Jena, Halle and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1836 at Jena
. In 1839 he received his habilitation at Basel
, where he was a lecturer of literary history.
In 1844 to 1851 he was chair of history at Humboldt University
, and during this time period was also an advisor to Frederick William IV of Prussia
. In 1851 he returned to Basel
, where he edited the Protestantischen Monatsblätter für innere Zeitgeschichte. In 1856-57 he worked as a mediator between Prussia
and Switzerland
concerning the Neuenburger Handel (Neuchâtel affair). Later he was an advisor to Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden.
In 1886 Gelzer was awarded an honorary professorship from the University of Jena. One of his better known written works was the two-volume Die letzten drei der Jahrhunderte Schweizergeschichte (The last Three Centuries of Swiss History).
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and diplomat who was a native of Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
. He was the father of philologist Heinrich Gelzer
Heinrich Gelzer
Not to be confused with the German classical scholar Matthias Gelzer, who wrote on Julius Caesar and the Late Roman Republic.Heinrich Gelzer was a German classical scholar. He wrote also on Armenian mythology. He was the son of the Swiss historian Johann Heinrich Gelzer...
(1847-1906).
He studied history and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Universities of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, Jena, Halle and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1836 at Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
. In 1839 he received his habilitation at Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
, where he was a lecturer of literary history.
In 1844 to 1851 he was chair of history at Humboldt University
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, and during this time period was also an advisor to Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
. In 1851 he returned to Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, where he edited the Protestantischen Monatsblätter für innere Zeitgeschichte. In 1856-57 he worked as a mediator between Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
concerning the Neuenburger Handel (Neuchâtel affair). Later he was an advisor to Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden.
In 1886 Gelzer was awarded an honorary professorship from the University of Jena. One of his better known written works was the two-volume Die letzten drei der Jahrhunderte Schweizergeschichte (The last Three Centuries of Swiss History).