Iselin, Isaac

Iselin, Isaac a German philosopher and philanthropist, was born at Basle March 27, 1728. He was educated at the university for the law profession, but much of his time was devoted to the study of philosophy, and he deserves our notice as the author of a Geschichte d. Menschheit (Frkf. and Lpz. 1764, 2 vols. 8vo. and often), and Tratüme eines Menschenfreundes (Zurich, 1758, 8vo, and often). He was a very conspicuous helper of Basedor (q.v.) in the philosophic efforts of the latter, founded a "society for the public good" at Basle aided in founding the Helvetic Society (1761), in which Hirzel, Sarasin, Pfeffel, and others took part, and was, in short, one of the most prominent leaders in the humanitarianism or philanthropism which flourished in, the second half of last century in Germany, and more especially in Switzerland. Isaac Iselin died June 15, 1782. See Hurst's Hagenbach, Church Hist. of the 18th and 19th Cent. 1, sect. 14; professor Vischer, Program (Basle, 1841, 4to). (J. H. W.)