Bruckner, John

Bruckner, John a Lutheran divine, who settled in England, was born on the island of Cadsand, near the Belgian frontier, December 31, 1726, and was educated in theology chiefly at the university of Franeker, whence he passed to Leyden, and then obtained a pastorship. His literary acquirements were eminent; he read Hebrew and Greek; composed correctly; and preached with applause in four languages — Latin, Dutch, French, and English. In 1753 he accepted the position of French preacher to the Walloon Church of Norwich, England, where he continued fifty-one years. In 1766 he also became minister to the Dutch Church, but the duties soon became merely nominal. He died May 12, 1804. Bruckner published, Theorie du Systmne Animal (1767): — Criticisms on the Diversions of Purley (1790): — Thoughts on Public Worship (1792), and other works. See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.