Wanker, Ferdinand Geminian

Wanker, Ferdinand Geminian a Catholic divine of Germany, was born Oct. 1, 1758, at Freiburg, in the Breisgau, where he also studied, and where, on account of his excellent examination, he was promoted as doctor of divinity. In 1782 he received holy orders at Constance, in 1783 was made subregens at the seminary in Freiburg, and in 1788 was appointed professor of ethics. For a great many years he occupied this chair, and was about to be confirmed as archbishop of Freiburg, when he died, Jan. 19, 1824. He is the author of Christliche Sittenlehre (Ulm, 1794; 3rd ed. Vienna, 1810). He also wrote, Ueber Ternunft und Ofen-barung in Hinsicht auf die moralischen Bedürfnisse der Menlschheit (ibid. 1804; new ed. Freiburg, 1819): — Vorlesungen über Religion nach Vernunft und Offenbarung (Mayence, 1828), etc. His works were edited by Friedrich Weick (Sulzbach, 1830 sq. 4 vols.). See Werner, Gesch. der katholischen Theologie, p. 264; Hug, Rede auf Ferd. Wanker, Dr. u. Prof. der Theologie; Theologisches Universal Lexikon, s.v.; Winer, Handbuch der theolog. Lit. 1, 286, 316; 2, 324, 826. (B. P.)