HAMAKER, H. A., one of the first Orientalists of his time, was born at Amsterdam, 25th Feb ruary 1789. Destined by his parents for the pro fession of a merchant, his tastes led him early to learning ; and the counsels of Willmet strength ened him in his ardent attachment to erudite studies, especially to the Arabic language, in which he made great progress. In 1815 he was ap pointed professor of the Oriental languages in the Athenceum at Franeker. In 1817 he was called to Leyden as professor extraordinary of Oriental languages ; and in 1822 he bccame ordinary pro fessor. Here he died on the loth October 1837, at the early age of 47, having undermined his health by excessive study. His literary ambition was too active, hurrying him from one language to another, and injuring his reputation. Instead of being contented with the knowledge of five Semi tic tongues besides the Arabic, he devoted himself without relaxation to the study of all the ancient and modern languages of Asia and Africa—a task to which human strength is unequal. The range
of his Oriental erudition was great ; it would have been of a profounder character if he had confined himself to fewer subjects. His works are nume rous, but none bears directly on Biblical science. All are of the Oriental-literary or historical type. Those most related to the O. T. are Diatribephilo logica-critica nzonumentorunz aliquot PlIniC0r1012 111115er in Africa repertorztm, interpretationem exhi bens ; accedunt nova in nzimmos aliquot phcenicios lapia'enzque Carpentoractensein conjecture, necnon tabula inscriptiones et alphabeta Punica continentes, Leyden 1822, 4to ; and Miscellanea Phenicia, sive Commentarii de rebus Phmnicum quibus inscrip tiones multce lapizizim ac num/norm nominaque propria hominum et locorunz explicantzir ; item Punka geniis ling,zza religiones passim Pius trantur, Leyden ISA 4to. See Juynboll's Oratio de Henrici Arentii Hamaker studii litteranem Ori entalium in patria nostra vindice fireclaro, Gro ningen 1837.—S. D.