Schauffer, William Gotlieb, Dd, Lld

Schauffer, William Gotlieb, D.D., LL.D.

a Congregational minister, was born at Stuttgart, the capital of Wurtemberg, August 22, 1798. When he was six years old his father removed to Odessa, Russia, where he hell the office of mayor over the German colony. The son early gave much attention to the study of French and Italian. He was converted at the age of twenty-two. With a view of preparing himself for a missionary, under the direction of Joseph Wolf, the Jewish missionary, he went to Constantinople and engaged in the study of the Latin, Turkish, and English languages. To perfect himself in the work of preparation he came to the United States, entered Andover Theological Seminary, and completed the full course in 1830. He was more or less familiar with a score of languages. In 1831 he was ordained, and, after spending five years in America, returned to Constantinople. One of the great works of Dr. Schauffler's life was the translation of the entire Bible into Osmanli Turkish, under the direction of the British and American Bible Societies. This work occupied eighteen years of unremitting labor. His labors for the conversion of the Jews were characterized by zeal and devotion. He translated the Old Test. into Spanish. He was obliged to leave Constantinople on account of the plague in 1836, and travelled in southern Russia preaching the gospel to German residents. He spent three years in Vienna superintending the printing of the Bible. In 1877, in consequence of the infirmities of age, he was obliged to lay aside his active work, and came to the United States to end his days. He died in New York, January 26, 1883. The Tract Society published his Meditations on the Last Days of Christ. See N.Y. Observer, February 1, 1883. (W.P.S.)