Iselin, James Christopher

Iselin, James Christopher a Swiss Protestant theologian and philologist, was born at Basle June 12, 1681. After he had acquired a good knowledge of the classics, and especially of Greek, he. applied himself to the study of Hebrew and theology. He was ordained in 1701, and in 1705 was appointed professor of history and rhetoric at Marburg. In 1707 he returned to Basle, and became successively professor of history, of antiquities, and finally (1711) of theology, in the university of that place. In 1716 he visited France (he had previously made a journey there in 1698), and was warmly received at Paris by chancellor D'Aguesseau. In 1717 he was elected member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres. Iselin died April 14,1737. He had been in relation with some of the most eminent men of his day, such as cardinal Passionei, the archbishop of Canterbury, Wake, the marquis Beretti Laudi, ambassador of Spain, etc. He wrote In Sententiam Jac. Benj. Bossuet de Babylone bestiisque et meretrice Apocalypseos (Basle, 1701, 4to): — Specimen observationum atque conjecturaruna ad orientalem philologiam et criticen pertinentium (Basle, 1704, 4to): — De Magorum in Persia Dominatione (Marb. 1707,4to): — issertatio qua mndi ceternitas argumentis historicis confutatur (1709,4to):De Canone Novi Testamenti (in Miscellanea Groningana, vl. 3), against Dodwell: etc. He also contributed a number of articles to the Mercure Suisse (1-734-5), etc. See Beck, Vita Iselini (Tempe Helvetica, vol. 3): Eloge d'lselin (Hist. de l'Acad. des Inscriptions, vol. 6); Schelhorn, Lebensbeschr. Iselin's (Acta Hist. Eccles. vol. 2; 3:1156; 4:1160); Moreri, Dict.; Chauffepie, Dict.; J. R. Iselin, Laudatio Iselini. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biogr. Géneralé, 26:50 (J. N. P.)