MARTIN LEBERECIIT (17SO-1849). A German theologian. He was born at rIla, near Weimar, and studied at the University of Jena. In I807 he was appointed extraordinary professor of phi losophy at Heidelberg, in 1809 professor of the olo:•y, and in 1810 was called to Berlin. By his excellence as a teacher, as also by his writ ings. De Wette soon acquired a great reputation. In 1S19, on account of a letter which lie wrote addressed to the mother of the assassin of Kotze bue, he was deprived of his chair. In 1822 he was appointed professor of theology ill the Uni versity of 11:1-“1, where his preleetions and ser• nuns in a short tine' secured him universal es teem and applause. In 1829 the Grand C'ouneil of Basel made Finn a member of the Council of Education. and granted him the freedom of the city. In 1819 he was elected rector of the uni versity. but died the same year. De \Vette was a man of comprehensive learning and acute philosophic di:ecrmnent. ills antipathy- to the shackles of dogmatic theology gave keenness and vigor to his criticism. Yet he formed no school and followed no master, so that it is difficult to describe his position. Ile cannot be classed either with Paulus, Strauss, or Bau•. A tem
perate but very decided historical rationalism, cm a broad basis of moral reverence. would per haps last express his biblical standpoint. Ms principal works :Ire: il,uqe sue 1:o:billing in das (rile Testament (1S011-071: ('ommenlar aber d:• n (1g11): Lehrhurh der hisIoriseh kriliselo n •inlcilany in die /libel, alien um! Tf'Sill II) (1517-201. English trans. of tffil Testament part by Theodore Parker (15431; Lehrbnch eh•islliehen Ihannatik h11 : chrisf/iche Sit/ride/ire I English trans. by Samuel l tsgood. 15421: Theodor (15251, English trans. by James Freeman Clark (15491 ; ror /c..miT n abet- die Neliyion, ih• IFesca, and dire Leseb,inuay.sfornsen (18271 : Pas Ircsea des ch•istliehen Ina lawns /,',regetischrs II a rtfl buch nrerrn (1S45-115).
1Vitli .1. C. \V. Augusti made a German translation of the entire Bible (Heidelberg,. 1509111. 5 parts; 4th ed., 1555, 3 vols.). Besides these. De \Vette published 0 critical edition of the eorrespondence (If Luther (Berlin. 1525-25). For his lift., consult F..). 1•iegand (Erfurt,