Velthusen, Johann Caspar

Velthusen, Johann Caspar a Protestant theologian of Germany, was born Aug. 7, 1740, at Weimar. He studied at Göttingen under Walch, Michaelis, and Heyne. From Göttingen he went as private tutor to Bremervorde, and from thence, in 1767, as deacon to Hameln. In 1770 he was called as chaplain to London. In 1775 he went as professor of theology to Kiel, having shortly before received the doctorate from Göttingen on account of his De Legibus Divinis haud umaquam Arbitrariis. In 1778 he was called to Helmstadt as professor of theology, general superintendent, and pastor of St. Stephen's.

At the same time he was appointed abbot of Marienthal. In 1789 he was called to Rostock as first professor of theology and rector of the university. In 1791 he went to Stade as general superintendent of the duchies of Bremen and Verden, where he died April 13, 1814. Velthusen was a voluminous writer, and his writings comprise almost all theological branches. They are given by. Döring, Die Gelehrten Theologen Deutschlands, 4:577-582; Winer, Handb. der theol. Literatur, 1, 13, 15, 138, 214, 847: 2, 203, 221, 227, 245, 280, 354, 382; First, Bibl. Jud)3 471. (B. P.)