Hurter, Friedrich Emanuel Von

Hurter, Friedrich Emanuel von a Swiss theologian who became a convert to Romanism, was born at Schaffhausen March 19,1787. He studied Protestant theology at the University of Göttingen, became pastor of a country congregation in his native canton, 1824, first pastor of the city of Schaffhausen, 1835, antistes (chief of the clergy of the canton) and dean of the synod. His intimate association with some of the ultramontane Roman Catholics, and the great attention paid him by communicants of the Church of Rome on a journey through Bavaria and Austria, brought on him the stigma of Cryptocatholicism, and he was requested by his colleagues at Schaffhausen to define his position to the Reformed Church in which he held orders. As the declaration which Hurter made gave dissatisfaction to his Protestant friends and brethren in the ministry, he resigned his position in 1841, and in June, 1844, made open declaration of his abjuration from the Reformed and adherence to the Romish Church. He now devoted his time mainly to the study of history, and in 1845 accepted a call to Vienna as imperial historiographer. Under the liberal ministry of Pillersdorf he had to resign this position, but recovered it in 1851, when he was also ennobled. He died at Gratz Aug. 27,1865. His works of especial interest to the theologian are, Geschichte des Papstes Innocenz III u. s. Zeitalter (Hamb. 1834-42, 4 vols. 8vo): — Befeindung d. Kathol. Kirche in d. Schweiz (Schaffh. 1840): — Geburt u. Wiedergeburt (ibid. 1845, 4 vols. 8vo; 4th ed. 1867, etc.): — Geschichte Ferdinand II und seiner Eltern (Schaffhaus. 1850-64, 11 vols.). The researches made for his history of Innocent III, the Roman Catholics claim, led to Hurter's conversion to their Church. — Pierer, Univ. Lex. 8, 633; Werner, Gesch. der Kathol. Theol. p. 521 sq.