Stockflett, Niels J Chr

Stockflett, Niels J. Chr., the apostle of the Laplanders, was born Jan. 11, 1787, at Frederickstadt. He studied law at Copenhagen in 1803, entered the military, was appointed lieutenant in 1809, and after the battle of Schestadt he was made captain. In 1823 he resigned his military position and betook himself to the study of theology at the universities of Upsal and Christiania. In 1825 he was ordained, and then commenced studying the language of the Laplanders, thus laying the foundation for a popular Lappish literature. In 1839 he resigned his ministerial position, and traveled through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. He died at Standefjord, April 26, 1866. Besides a Primer, a Grammar, a Bible History, and Contributions to the Knowledge of the Laplandish Language, he translated the New Test. for the Lapps, and thus immortalized his name. See the Regensburger Conversations Lexikon s.v.; Vahl, Lapperne op den lappske Mission (Copenhagen, 1866); Piper, Evangel. Kalender, 1867, p. 213 sq. SEE QUANIAN VERSION. (B.P.)