RosenmülLer, eRnst fRiedrich kArl

Rosenmüller, Ernst Friedrich Karl, a noted German Orientalist, who contributed largely to the advancement of our acquaintance with the Shemitic languages, literature, and customs. He was the oldest son of the rationalist theologian Johann Georg Rosenmüller (q.v.), and was born Dec. 10, 1768. The various positions held by his father introduced him to learned studies at an unusually early age, and afforded him unequalled facilities for their prosecution. He became identified with the University of Leipsic, first as a student, in 1792 as tutor, extraordinary professor of Arabic in 1796, and professor in ordinary of Oriental languages from 1813 to the time of his death, Sept. 17, 1835. His principal work was authorship; his chief importance that of a learned, keen, and industrious writer on Oriental subjects. He promoted the study of the Arabic language (Institutiones ad Fundam. Linguoe Arab. [Lips. 1818]; Analecta Arabica [ibid. 1824-27, 3 vols.]), brought within the reach of theologians the rapidly increasing knowledge of his day with reference to the conditions of the East (Altes u. Neues Morgenl. etc. [ibid. 1816-20, 6 vols.]), and endeavored to raise the exposition of the language and statements of the Old Test. to the level of the science of his day. Comp. his Scholia in Fetus Test. (16 pts. ibid. 1788-1817; the same in epitome, 5 pts. 1828-35); Handb. fur Lit. d. Bibl. Kritik u. Exegese (4 pts. Götting. 1797- 1800), and the Handb. d. Bibl. Alterthumskunde (4 pts. Leips. 1823-34). His works, with biography annexed, are fully given in Neuer Nekrolog d. Deutschen, 13th year, pt. 2, p. 766769.