Jeremie Jacques Oberlin - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

JEREMIE JACQUES OBERLIN (1735-1806), Alsatian philologist and archaeologist, brother of Jean Frederic Oberlin, was born at Strassburg on the 8th of August 1735. While studying theology at the university he devoted special attention to Biblical archaeology. In he was chosen professor at the gymnasium of his native town, in 1763 librarian to the university, in 1770 professor of rhetoric, and in 1782 of logic and metaphysics. Oberlin published several manuals on archaeology and ancient geography, and made frequent excursions into different provinces of France to investigate antiquarian remains and study provincial dialects, the result appearing in Essai sur le patois Lorrain (1775); Dissertations sur les Minnesingers (1782-1789); and Observations concernant le patois et les mceurs des gens de la campagne (1791). He also published several editions of Latin authors. He died on the 10th of October 1806.