WETZER, Heinrich Joseph. – Historian and Orientalist, b. 19 March 1801 at Anzefahr (Kurhessen), d. at Freiburg im Br. 5 Nov. 1853.
He began the study of theology and Oriental languages at Marburg, continuing it at Tübingen and Freiburg, and for several months at Paris. In 1830 he became professor of Oriental philology at Freiburg im Br.
W. undertook a history of 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, Frankfurt a.M. 1827). From a manuscript in the Bibliothèque nationale at Paris, W. drew up an Arabic history, which he translated into Latin, on the Coptic Church in Egypt (Taki-eddini Makrizii historica Coptorum christianorum in Aegypto..., 1828). From 1847 he directed, together with B. Welte (1805–85), the Kirchenlexikon, which contains not a few articles bearing his signature.