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Chytraeus, David

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(properly Kochhafe), one of the most eminent of the Lutheran theologians of the second half of the sixteenth century, was born at Ingelfingen, Feb. 26, 1530. Having studied the ancient languages at Tibingen, he went to Wittenberg about 1545, and became a pupil of Melancthon in theology. In 1548 he began to lecture at Wittenberg on physics, and also on theology. After an extended journey in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, he was called in 1551 to Rostock; and his character for scholarship and wisdom gained him great influence in Mecklenburg, and also in wider spheres. He was employed by Maximilian II to arrange ecclesiastical affairs in Austria. He was principal author of the statutes of the University of Helmstadt, and was one of the authors of the Formula of Concord (q.v.). He died June 25, 1600. Among his writings are, Historia Confessimois Augustance (Frankfort, 1578, 8vo); De Morte et Vita AEterna (Rostock, 1590, 8vo). His works were collected and printed in 2 vols. folio (Leipzig, 1599; Hanover, 1604). A biography of Chytrmeus, with a selection from his works, was published by Pressel in the 8th vol. of the work, Leben u. ausgewdhlte Schriften der Vdter der luth. Kirche (Elberfeld, 1863). See Schutzins, De Vita D. Clhytrcei (Hamburg, 1720-28, prefixed to the writings of Chytraeus, 3 vols. 8vo); Melchior Adam, Vita Theologorum (Francfort, 1705), p. 323; Herzog, Real-Encyklopadie, 2:701.