Thomas von Westen

Thomas von Westen
Born 13 September 1682
Trondheim, Norway
Died 9 April 1727 (aged 44)
Trondheim
Nationality Norwegian
Occupation Lutheran priest and missionary
Known for Seminarium scholasticum, model for the later Seminarium Lapponicum

Thomas von Westen (13 September 1682 – 9 April 1727) was a Norwegian Lutheran priest and missionary.[1]

He was born in Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. He was educated for the priesthood in Copenhagen where he took his Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1698. He received his Cand.theol. in 1699. After completing his education, he started working as a priest in Helgeland. In 1709, he was appointed vicar of Veøy in Romsdal.

He was an active participant of the pietist association Syvstjernen along with his friend Nils Engelhart. He was also a pioneer of Christian mission among Sami people in Norway. He undertook three trips to northern Norway between 1716-1723. He founded the school Seminarium scholasticum in Trondheim in 1717. The school closed after Westen died in 1727. Seminarium scholasticum was a model for the later Seminarium Lapponicum which operated between 1752-1774.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas von Westens runebomme 1723 (Finnmark Forlag)
  2. ↑ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "Thomas von Westen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Grankvist, Rolf. "Thomas Von Westen". In Helle, Knut. Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "Seminarium Lapponicum". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

Other Sources