Fabricius, Theodor

Fabricius, Theodor a German divine and reformer, was born in Anholt (in Prussia) February 2, 1501, of very poor parents. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and could not begin to go to school until he was sixteen years old. His diligence and success attracted the attention of count Oswald of Bergen, who sent him to Cologne to study at the university. He afterwards went to Wittemberg, where he not only studied Hebrew thoroughly, but also imbibed from Luther and Melancthon the principles of the Reformation. His patron abandoned him; but although he was reduced to great straits of poverty, he maintained his integrity, and courage. Returning to Cologne, he taught Hebrew, but was soon driven away as a heretic. Philip of Hesse received him, and made him his almoner. In 1536 he became pastor at Allendorf. In 1540 he was imprisoned by the elector for preaching against polygamy. In 1543 he returned to Wittemberg, as professor of Hebrew and of theology. His life, in many respects a stormy one, ended on the 15th of October, 1550. He published Instutiones Grammaticae in Lingunam Sanctum (Cologne, 1528, 1531, 4to): — Tabulae de verbis et nominibus Heb. (Basel, 1545). There is a sketch of his life in Hase, Biblio. Bremensis, part i. Biog. Universelle, 14:46.