WETZER, HEINRICH JOSEPH. - Historian and Orientalist, b. 19 March 1801 at Anzefahr (Kurhessen), d. at Friburgo in Br. on 5 Nov. 1853.
He began the study of theology and Oriental languages at Marburgo and continued it at Tubinga and Friburgo, then for some months in Paris. In 1830 he became professor of Oriental philology at Friburgo in Br.
W. Arianism (v.), but published only an introductory work on chronology (Restitutio vera chronologiae rerum ex controversiis arianis
inde ab anno 325 usque ad annum 350 exortarum contra chronologiam hodie receptam exhibita, Francoforte s. M. 1827). From a manuscript in the National Library of Paris W. drew an Arabic history, which he translated into Latin, concerning the Coptic Church in Egypt (Taki-eddini Makrizii historia Coptorum christianorum in Aegypto... 1828). From 1847 he edited, together with B. Welte (1805-85), the Kirchenlexikon, which contains quite a few articles bearing his signature.