MICHAELIS, JOHN atvin, a celebrated German theologian and biblical critic, was born at in Lower Saxony, on the 27th of February, 1717. He received the rudiments of his education at the school of the Orphan House, and was chiefly indebted for his in struction in classical literature to his father, Christian Benedict Michaelis, professor of theology and the ori ental languages in the university of Halle. lle took his degree of master in the philosophical faculty at the univeishy above mentioned, in the year 1739. In 1741, he made an excursion through Holland and Eng land, and formed an acquaintance with those eminent orientalists, Seimhens and Lowth. During his resi dence in England, the Bodleian library at Oxford pre sented a rich field for his indefatigable researches. Af ter an absence of fifteen months he returned to Halle, where he delivered lectures on the historical books of the Old Testament. In 1745, he repaired to Gottin
gen, under the patronage of M. de NIunchausen, where he continued his lectures, and was first appointed au extraordinary, and, in 1750, an ordinary professor in the philosophical faculty in that university. Here lie had an opportunity of cultivating his talents, and ex tending his. knowledge by assiduuus study, and by a constant intercourse with Haller, Gesner, Mosheim, and other eminent scholars. He also obtained the si tuation of secretary to the Royal Society of GOttingen, of which he became director in 1761 ; and he was soon afterwards created an aulic counsellor by the court of Hanover. As his reputation increased, he was admit ted, as an honorary or corresponding member, into va rious learned bOdies in foreign countries.