Jan Gerard Kerkherdere
Born(1677-11-07)7 November 1677
Hulsberg, Netherlands
Died16 March 1738(1738-03-16) (aged 60)
Leuven, Austrian Netherlands
Occupation(s)Latinist, Latin teacher, historiographer
TitleImperial Historiographer
SpouseAnna Maria Caulants (m. 1719)

Jan Gerard Kerkherdere (7 November 1677 – 16 March 1738) was a Dutch Latinist. He was a Latin teacher at the Collegium Trilingue in Leuven, in the Spanish Netherlands (from 1713 known as the Austrian Netherlands). Kerkherdere provoked controversy over his analyses of the Old Testament.[1] His name in Latin was Ioannes Gerardus Falcoburgensis.

Biography

Latijnse school [nl] in Maastricht, where Kerkherdere's career as a Latinist began

Kerkherdere was born in Hulsberg, Staats-Overmaas, Netherlands, in the Valkenburg region (French: Fauquemont).[2] The latter is reflected in his Latin name. Erroneously, his place of birth is sometimes indicated as Valkenburg or Wijnandsrade. He was a son of Jan Kerkherdere, alderman of the court of Climen, and of Maria Roebroox.[2] He attended Latin school with the Jesuits in Maastricht. In 1694 he moved to Leuven, where he studied liberal arts. Kerkherdere was a student at the Pedagogie Het Varken [nl], at the former Old University of Leuven. He graduated two years later as a philosopher (1696). He continued his studies in classical languages as well as theology, after which he received his diploma in the year 1700. He was never ordained. He spoke Latin, Greek and Hebrew fluently.[2]

From 1700 until his death in 1738 he was professor of Latin at the Collegium Trilingue in Leuven. During his career as a Latinist, Kerkherdere was often asked to write Latin verses for festivities and special occasions. For example, he would proclaim a new Austrian governor or an anniversary at the university. He was known for the publication of a grammar of the Latin language. Readers appreciated his explanation of the rules and the exceptions without citing copious examples. In 1722 Emperor Joseph I of the Holy Roman Empire appointed him Imperial Historiographer.[3]

As an historiographer, Kerkherdere published on the Old Testament. His analyzes were not always appreciated. During his life, but also after his death, some of his theses became controversial, namely when he saw a relationship between civil history and the biblical books.[4]

Kerkherdere married Anna Maria Caulants in 1719. He died in Leuven in 1738.[5][2]

Works

All his publications were in Latin.

References

  1. ^ Neve, Felix; Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium (1888). "Kerkherdere, Gérard-Jean". Biographie Nationale de Belgique, Tome 10ème (PDF) (in French). Brussel: Emile Bruylant. pp. 657–659.
  2. ^ a b c d Blok, P.J.; Molhuysen, P.C. (1924). Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek. Deel 6 (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ Ruestow, Edward G. (2004). The Microscope in the Dutch Republic The Shaping of Discovery. Cambridge University Press. p. 163. ISBN 9780521528634. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ Blok, P.J.; P.C. Molhuysen (1924). "Kerkherdere, Jan Gerard". Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek. Deel 6 (in Dutch). Electronische versie, Huygens ING.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ "Jan Gerard Kerkherdere". www.lensonleeuwenhoek.net. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. ^ Kerkherdere, Jan Gerard (1717). Inscriptiones et elegia in laeto introitu sive inauguratione Augustissimi Domini nostri, Caroli Sexti Caesaris, Regis Hispaniae, Brabantiae Ducis inaugurati (in Latin). Brussel: Eugenius Henricus Fricx.
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