Walther, Christoph Theodosius

Walther, Christoph Theodosius a German missionary, was born at Schildberg, in Brandenburg, in 1699, and studied divinity at Halle. On the invitation of Frederic IV, king of Denmark, he arranged to go as a missionary to the Danish possessions in East India. He went to Copenhagen in company with Henry Plutschow and Bartholomew Ziegenbalg in 1705, and they arrived at Tranquebar, India, July 9, 1706. Walther then learned Portuguese and several Indian dialects, and visited the whole coast of Coromandel, preaching to the inhabitants with great success. He founded the missionary establishment of Majubaram. On account of failing health, he returned to Europe in 1740; but, before reaching Denmark, he died at Dresden, April 27, 1741. He was the author-of several works pertaining to his missionary labors, and for the benefit of the heathen nation to which he preached. See Schöttgen,

Commentarii de Vita et Agone Christiani Theodosii Waltheri (Halle, 1743).