Ott, Johann Heinrich

Ott, Johann Heinrich a noted Swiss Protestant divine and Orientalist, was born in the canton of Zurich in 1617. His father, also a minister in the country, placed him at Zurich under the care of the distinguished Breitinger. In 1636 he went to:study at Lausanne; sometime after at Geneva and Grossingen, in the company of Hottinger; after rapid advancement under professors Gomar and Alting, he went to Leyden and Amsterdam. Here for five years he applied himself to the study of rabbinical learning and the Oriental languages. He then returned to Switzerland, making the tour of England and France. After his arrival home he became minister of the Church of Dietlickon, where he remained twenty-five years. In 1651 he was appointed professor of eloquence at Zurich, of Hebrew in 1655, and of ecclesiastical history in 1668. He died in 1682. Ott maintained an extensive literary correspondence. He wrote principally on theology. The following is a complete list of his works: Franco Gallia: — Oratio de causa Jan senitica: — Queastio, an et quando Petrus fuit Ronzoe: The Grandeur of the Roman Church (in Latin, with Remarks): — Ovouca Trooyitu, seu nomiina hominmum pr pria: — A nnales Anabaptistici: — Exzaminis perpetui in annales Ccesaris Baronii, centurieu tres: — Vindicice hujus tractatus adversus Abbatem Reding: — Oratio in commendationem studii Hebraici: — De resurrectione: — aronii examinis continuatio ad xiii saculunz usque: — De magia licita et illicita: — De' alphabetis et ratione scribendi onnium nationunm: — Universa poesis philologice tractata, etc.

His son, JOHANN BAPTIST, an Orientalist and antiquarian, was born in 1661. He became professor of Hebrew at Zurich about 1702, and wrote several antiquarian treatises. He died shortly after his appointment to the professorship at Zurich.