Carl Jesper Benzelius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Church | Church of Sweden |
| Diocese | Diocese of Strängnäs |
| In office | 1776–1793 |
| Predecessor | Jacob Serenius |
| Successor | Stefan Insulin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 January 1714 |
| Died | 2 January 1793 (aged 78) Strängäs, Sweden |
Carl Jesper Benzelius (16 January 1714 – 2 January 1793) was a Swedish theologian, professor, and bishop of the Diocese of Strängnäs from 1776 to 1793.[1]
Biography
Born in Uppsala to archbishop Erik Benzelius the younger, Benzelius was brought up at the home of his grandfather, Bishop Jesper Swedberg. He was then guided by his uncle Henric Benzelius at Lund University and graduated with his Master of Arts degree in 1738, after which he spent a few years in England, France and Holland. In 1741 he became a temporary priest of the royal court, receiving a permanent position in 1742.
Between 1743 and 1744, he again traveled abroad, and stayed particularly in Helmstedt, where he defended his dissertation under the famous Johann Lorenz von Mosheim, and became an honorary doctor of theology. In Berlin he presided over the marriage of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia and was and was accepted as Louisa Ulrika's teacher of the Swedish language. In 1748, Benzelius married Johanna Helena Arnell, daughter of vicar Lars Arnell and Johanna Kolthoff.[2] In 1750 he was called to Lund as professor of theology.[3] His siblings were ennobled with the name Benzelstierna; however, Benzelius kept his name.[4]
Benzelius was quiet and meek. He is portrayed as a more capable learned professor and being more appreciated as a friend and family man than being an apt head of a diocese. This, however, became his lot when he was appointed bishop of Strängnäs in 1776. The following year he was called, with a plurality vote, to become the bishop of Lund, and though he himself wished to remain in Lund, he was subject to the wishes of Gustaf III, and had to cede his position to Olof Celsius the Younger. He was a member of the Riksdag of the Estates in 1778 and 1786.[5] In 1778 he became a member of Pro Fide et Christianismo, a Christian education society.[5] Benzelius died in Strängnäs 2 January 1793.
References
- ↑ "Stiftets biskopar". Church of Sweden (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ↑ Hellström, Gunnar (1951). Stockholms stads herdaminne från reformationen intill tillkomsten av Stockholms stift (PDF) (in Swedish). p. 191. OCLC 602502626. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- ↑ "Karl Jesper B.". Nordisk familjebok (in Swedish) (Uggleupplagan ed.). 1904. p. 1391. Archived from the original on 2016-09-10. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "Benzelstierna, släkt - Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon". Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
- 1 2 Walli, G. "Carl Jesper Benzelius". Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904 and 1926, now in the public domain.
Further reading
- C. J. Benzelius, Dissertatio historico-theologica de Johanne Dvraeo, pacificatore celeberrimi maxime de actis eivs Svecanis qvam consensv venerandae Facultatis theologicae in illvstri Academia Ivlia praesidente magnifico prorectore Jo. Laurentio Moshemio [...] pro svmmis in Theologia Honoribvs conseqvendis in Ivleo Maiori [...] publicae censurae subjiciet Carolus Jesper Benzelius, Helmstadii, Typis P. Dieterici Schnorrii, 1744.