Lavater, Louis

Lavater, Louis a Swiss Protestant theologian, was born at Kybourg March l, 1527. He went to Strasburg in 1545, and there became intimately acquainted with the theologians Bucer and Sturm. He afterwards removed to Paris, and studied theology with Turnebus, Ramus, and Lambin. After visiting Italy he returned to Zurich, where he became archdeacon and canon in 1550, and finally head pastor in 1585. He died July 15, 1586. His principal works are, De Ritibus et Institutis ecclesiae Tigurinae (Zurich, 1559, 8vo): — Historia de origine et progressu Controversiae Sacramentariae de Coenam Domini (Zurich, 1563 and 1572, 8vo): — De Spectris, Lemuribus et magnis atque insolitis fragoribus et praesagitionibus quae obitum hominum, clades, mutationesque imperiorum praecedunt (Zu. 1570, 12mo; translated into most European languages): — Ven Leben u. Tod Heinrich Bullingers (Zurich, 1576); and a number of exegetical and devotional works. See Adam, Vitae Theolog. German.; Verhegden, Elogia; Hottinger, Bibl. Tigurina. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 29:994.