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.
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.
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.
(Excerpt from Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissim...)
(Inscriptionum latinarum selectarum amplissima collectio a...)
(Excerpt from Inscriptionum Latinarum Selectarum Amplissim...)
( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)
His family had taken refuge in Switzerland at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
He was a most liberal-minded man, both in politics and religion, an enthusiastic supporter of popular education and a most inspiring teacher.
