John Christopher Kunze
Encyclopedia
John Christopher Kunze was an American Lutheran minister, educator, author and theologian
.
, a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis
district of Prussian Saxony
. In 1758, when his parents died, he began studying at the orphanage in Halle, Germany
. He received his classical training in the gymnasia
at Rossleben and Merseburg
,and then attended the University of Leipzig
where he studied history, philosophy and theology. He worked as a teacher and an orphanage inspector before becoming ordained as a Lutheran minister.
In 1770, Kunze emigrated to Colonial America
to serve as second pastor
at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran churches in Philadelphia. In 1771 he married Rev. Henry Muhlenberg
's daughter Margaretta Henrietta. In 1779 he succeeded Muhlenberg as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, becoming the senior Lutheran minister in Philadelphia and an ex officio member of the board of trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
. In 1780 he stepped down from the Board to become Professor of German and Hebrew. While teaching, he and fellow German Lutheran pastor, Justus Henry Christian Helmuth, tried unsuccessfully to establish a German College within the University.
In 1784, Kunze was elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society
, accepted a position at Trinity and Christ Church in New York City
, and also became Professor of Oriental languages at Columbia College
. In 1785, Kunze served as an official translator for the United States Congress
. Kunze was fluent in five languages and had also studied medicine, astronomy and numismatics.
With the death of John Christopher Hartwick
during 1796, Kunze became the founding director of Hartwick Seminary
. As a steward of the estate of John Christopher Hartwick, Kunze worked to establish a Lutheran Seminary in America. Kunze had been Hartwick's personal choice as director of the seminary. Prominent political and religious leaders Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
and Frederick Muhlenberg
convinced Dr. Kunze to direct the seminary and teach theology at his home in New York City. In 1816, the New York State Legislature would incorporated the new school—the first Lutheran seminary in America—as a classical academy and theological seminary, in the Town of Hartwick, New York
.
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...
.
Biography
John Christopher Kunze was born in ArternArtern
Artern is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, Thuringia, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Unstrut and Helme, 12 km south of Sangerhausen. It has railway connections to Erfurt and Sangerhausen. The railway connection to Naumburg was cancelled in December 2006. The...
, a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis
Kyffhäuserkreis
The Kyffhäuserkreis is a district in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Mansfeld-Südharz, Saalekreis und Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, and the districts Sömmerda, Unstrut-Hainich and Eichsfeld.-History:...
district of Prussian Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. In 1758, when his parents died, he began studying at the orphanage in Halle, Germany
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
. He received his classical training in the gymnasia
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
at Rossleben and Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
,and then attended the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
where he studied history, philosophy and theology. He worked as a teacher and an orphanage inspector before becoming ordained as a Lutheran minister.
In 1770, Kunze emigrated to Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
to serve as second pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran churches in Philadelphia. In 1771 he married Rev. Henry Muhlenberg
Henry Muhlenberg
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg , was a German Lutheran pastor sent to North America as a missionary, requested by Pennsylvania colonists....
's daughter Margaretta Henrietta. In 1779 he succeeded Muhlenberg as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, becoming the senior Lutheran minister in Philadelphia and an ex officio member of the board of trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. In 1780 he stepped down from the Board to become Professor of German and Hebrew. While teaching, he and fellow German Lutheran pastor, Justus Henry Christian Helmuth, tried unsuccessfully to establish a German College within the University.
In 1784, Kunze was elected a Member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, accepted a position at Trinity and Christ Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and also became Professor of Oriental languages at Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
. In 1785, Kunze served as an official translator for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Kunze was fluent in five languages and had also studied medicine, astronomy and numismatics.
With the death of John Christopher Hartwick
John Christopher Hartwick
John Christopher Hartwick was a Lutheran minister in Colonial America and founder of Hartwick College.-Background:Hartwick was a native of the dukedom of Saxe-Gotha in the province of Thuringia in...
during 1796, Kunze became the founding director of Hartwick Seminary
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
. As a steward of the estate of John Christopher Hartwick, Kunze worked to establish a Lutheran Seminary in America. Kunze had been Hartwick's personal choice as director of the seminary. Prominent political and religious leaders Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was a Representative from New York to the United States Congress. He was the cousin of Killian K...
and Frederick Muhlenberg
Frederick Muhlenberg
Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg was an American minister and politician who was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A delegate and a member of the U.S...
convinced Dr. Kunze to direct the seminary and teach theology at his home in New York City. In 1816, the New York State Legislature would incorporated the new school—the first Lutheran seminary in America—as a classical academy and theological seminary, in the Town of Hartwick, New York
Hartwick, New York
Hartwick is a town located in Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 2,203.Town of Hartwick is located in the middle of the county, southwest of Village of Cooperstown....
.
Other sources
- Hess, Stephen America's Political Dynasties (Transaction Publishers. 1997)
- Lagerquist, L. DeAne The Lutherans (Praeger Paperback; 2nd edition. 1999)
External links
- http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=165827&imageID=424258&word=Kunze%2C%20John%20C.%20(John%20Christopher)%2C%201744-1807&s=3¬word=&d=&c=&f=2&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=2&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=2#_seemore NYPL Digital Gallery - Revd. John Christopher Kunze, D.D. (1801-ca. 1886)