Johann Caspar von Orelli

Background

He was born on 13 February 1787 at Zürich of a distinguished Italian family. His cousin, Johann Conrad Orelli (1770–1826), was the author of several works in the department of later Greek literature.

Career

In 1814 he became teacher of modern languages and history at the cantonal school at Chur (Coire); in 1819, professor of eloquence and hermeneutics at the Carolinum in Zurich, and in 1833 professor at the new university, the foundation of which was largely due to his efforts.

From 1807 to 1814 Orelli worked as preacher in the reformed community of Bergamo, where he acquired the taste for Italian literature which led to the publication of Contributions to the History of Italian Poetry (1810) and a biography (1812) of Vittorino da Feltre, his ideal of a teacher.

In 1814 he became teacher of modern languages and history at the cantonal school at Chur (Coire); in 1819, professor of eloquence and hermeneutics at the Carolinum in Zurich, and in 1833 professor at the new university, the foundation of which was largely due to his efforts.

His attention during this period was mainly devoted to classical literature and antiquities. He had already published (1814) an edition, with critical notes and commentary, of the Antidosis of Isocrates, the complete text of which, based upon the MSS in the Ambrosian and Laurentian libraries, had recently been made known by Andreas Mystoxedes of Corfu.

The three works upon which his reputation rests are the following. A complete edition of Cicero in seven volumes (1826 - 1838). The first four volumes contained the text (new ed. , 1845 - 1863), the fifth the old Scholiasts, the remaining three (called Onomasticon Tullianum) a life of Cicero, a bibliography of previous editions, indexes of geographical and historical names, of laws and legal formulae, of Greek words, and the consular annals.

After his death, the revised edition of the text was completed by J. G. Baiter and C. Halm, and contained numerous emendations by Theodor Mommsen and J. N. Madvig.

The works of Horace (1837-1838; 4th ed. , 1886-1892). The exegetical commentary, although confessedly only a compilation from the works of earlier commentators, shows great taste and extensive learning, although hardly up to the exacting standard of modern criticism.

Inscriptionum Lalinarum Selectarum Collectio (1828; revised edition by W. Henzen, 1856), extremely helpful for the study of Roman public and private life and religion.

His editions of Plato (1839-1841, including the old scholia, in collaboration with A. W. Winckelmann) and Tacitus (1846-1848, new ed. by various scholars, 1875-1894) also deserve mention.

Orelli died at Zurich on the 6th of January 1849.

Achievements

• He took great interest in the struggle of the Greeks for independence, and strongly favoured the appointment of the notorious J. F. Strauss to the chair of dogmatic theology at Zurich, which led to the disturbance of the 6th of September 1839 and the fall of the liberal government.

Works

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  • Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissima Collectio Ad Illustrandam Romanae Antiquitatis, Disciplinam Accommodata Ac Magnarum Collectionum ... Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint) (Latin Edition)

    (Excerpt from Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissim...)

  • Inscriptionum latinarum selectarum amplissima collectio ad illustrandam Romanae antiquitatis (Latin Edition)

    (Inscriptionum latinarum selectarum amplissima collectio a...)

  • Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissima Collectio Ad Illustrandam Romanae Antiquitatis, Vol. 1: Disciplinam Accommodata Ac Magnarum Collectionum ... Exhibens (Classic Reprint) (Latin Edition)

    (Excerpt from Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissim...)

  • Johann Kaspar Lavater's Ausgewählte Schriften, dritter Theil (German Edition)

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • Quae Supersunt Ex Historiae Romanae Libris Duobus; (Latin Edition)

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Johann Kaspar Lavater's Ausgewaehlte Schriften, dritte Auflage, zweiter Band (German Edition)

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • Eclogae Horatianae. Pars II. Sermones prope omnes continens; (Latin Edition)

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Opera quae supersunt omnia; ex recensione Io. Casp. Orellii; opus morte Orellii interruptum continuaverunt I.G. Baiterus et Car. Halmius. (Latin Edition)

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

Religion

His family had taken refuge in Switzerland at the time of the Protestant Reformation.

Views

He was a most liberal-minded man, both in politics and religion, an enthusiastic supporter of popular education and a most inspiring teacher.

Connections

Cousin:

Johann Conrad Orelli