MELANCHTHON, Pniur, Luther's fellow-laborer in the reformation, was b. Feb. 16, 1497, at Bretten, in the palatinate of the Rhine, now in the grand duchy of Baden. IIis name was originally Schwarzerd (black earth), of which Melanchthon is a Greek translation. He was educated at the university of Heidelberg, where he took the de,,,o-ree •of bachelor of philosophy in 1512. In the same year he went to Tubingen, studied theology, took the degree of master, and in 1514, gave lectures on the Aristotelian philo sophy and the classics. About this time, he published a Greek grammar. On his rela tive Reuchlin's recommendation, he was appointed, in 1518, professor of the Greek language and literature in Wittenberg. He soon decided in favor of the reformation, and brought to the aid of Luther great attainments in learning, great acuteness in dia lectics and exegesis, a remarkable power both of clear thinking and of clearly expressing his thoughts; and, along with all, a gentleness and moderation that most advantageously tempered Luther's vehemence. In 1521 he published his Loci Communes Berum Theo logicarum, the first great Protestant work on dogmatic theology. It passed through more than fifty editions in the course of the author's life. In 1530, he rnade a most important contribution to the cause of Protestantism in the Augsburg confession (q.v.). In 1541 he went to Worms, and soon after to Ratisbon, to conduct the cause of the Protestants in the conferences there. But the infiuence of the papal legate counteracted all his efforts for a peaceful accommodation, and his own party were much dissatisfied on. account of the concessions which he made. After Luther's death Melanchtlion lost in some measure the confidence of some of the Protestants, by those concessions to the Roman Catholics which his anxiety for peace led him to make; whilst the zealous Lutherans were no less displeased because of his approximation to the doctrine of Calvin on the Lord's supper. His consent, conditionally given, to the introduction of the Augs
burg interhn (q.v.) in Saxony, in 1549, led to painful controversies; and he was involved in various controversies, which filled the latter years of his life with disquietude. He died at Wittenberg, April 19, 1560. Melanclithon, although gentle, was emotional and excitable, and conciliatory in the extreme. As a public teacher, he was exceedingly admired, and students flocked to him from all parts of Europe. He was essentially a theologian and scholar, and in his habits, if not in his opinions, NM the precursor of those acute and laborious divines who have in modern times shed so much luster on the German church. The most complete edition of his works (which comprise a Greek and Latin grammar, editions of and commentaries on several classics and, the Septuagint, biblical commentaries, doctrinal and ethical works, official documents, declarations, dis sertations, responses, and a very extensive correspondence with friends and the leading men of the age) is that by Bretschneider in his Corpus 1?eformatorum (28 vols. 1834-60). Melanchthon's life ha.s been written by his friend Camerarius (1566), and frequently in the course of the present century. One of the latest is by Schmidt (1861). The tricen tenary of Melanclithon's death (April 19, 1860) was celebrated with great solemnity iihroughout Germany.