Knapp, Johann Georg

Knapp, Johann Georg, father of Georg Christian, was himself a theologian of some note. He was born at Oehringen Dec. 27, 1705, of pious parents, and went to the University of Altdorf to study theology. He removed to Jena in 1723 to continue his preparatory studies for the ministerial office, and completed them at Halle, where, in 1728, he was appointed instructor at the royal paedagogium. In 1732 he became pastor to the Prussian military school at Berlin, but remained there only one year, and then returned to Halle to fill an adjunct professorship in theology at the university. He was made ordinary or regular professor in 1739. After the decease of the celebrated Franke he was placed over the orphan asylum, and held this position until his death, July 30, 1771. Knapp took a particular interest in the cause of missions, and published Neuere Gesch. d. evangel. Missionsanstalten zur Bekehrung d.Heiden en Ostindien (Halle, 1770, 8vo), and other reports of missions. He also published several valuable dissertations, for a list of which, see Doring, Gelehrte a Theolog. Deutschlands, ii, 144. (J. H. W.)