Abbt, Thomas

Abbt, Thomas, A German theological writer, was born at Ulm. Nov. 25, 1738. He received his education in his native place, and in 1756 went to the University of Halle, where he was invited by Prof. Baumgarten to live in his house. In 1760 he was appointed professor extraordinary of philosophy in the University of Frankfort-on-the-Oder. He passed six months of the following. year at Berlin, and left that city to fill the mathematical chair in the University of Rinteln, Westphalia. Wearying of academical life, he entered the profession of law, and in 1765, was presented by the reigning prince of Schaumburg-Lippe to the office of councillor of the court, regency, and consistory of Buckeburg. He died Nov. 27, 1766. Besides other publications (in German or Latin), he wrote early paradoxical essays on The Burial of Moses (Halle, 1757, 4to): — Confusion of Tongues Not a Punishment (ibid. 4to): — Search of Truth (ibid. 1759, 4t0). See Nicolai. Ehrengedachtniss d. Abbt (Berlin, 1767, 4to).