Jonsius, John

, a learned philological writer, was born Oct. 20, 1624, at Flensburg in tite duchy of Sleswick. He was first educated at the school of Flensburg, and that of Kiel, and very early discovered such a talent for music, that when he went to Hamburgh, and afterwards to Crempen, he was enabled to support himself by his musical skill. In the autumn of 1645, he went to Rostock, where he studied the languages and philosophy, and probably theology, as he became a preacher in 1647. In the same year he was admitted doctor in philosophy. Leaving Rostock in 1649, he returned to Flensburg to be co-rector of the schools, an office which he filled with great credit for a year, and had for one of his scholars the celebrated Marquard Gudius. The smallness of his salary obliging him to give up his situation, he went in 1650 to Konigsberg, where he taught philosophy, and in 1652 accepted the place of rector of the schools at Flensburg. In 1656 he was presented to the rectorate of the school belonging to the cathedral; but partly owing to the bad air of the place, and partly to some discouragements and domestic troubles, he determined to leave his native country for Leipsic; and while there, the senate of Francfort offered him the place of sub-rector, which he | accepted, but did not enjoy long, as he died of a violent haemorrhage in April 1659. He was the author of various philological dissertations, which indicated great learning and critical acumen; but his principal work is his “De Scriptoribus historic philosophic^, libri IV.” Fraucfort, 1659, 4to. This soon became very scarce, which determined Dornius to publish a new edition in 1716, continued to that time, with learned notes. Both editions are highly praised, as valuable works, by Gracvius, Baillet, and Brucker. Jonsius had announced other useful treatises, the completion of which was prevented by his untimely death. 1

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Chaufrpie, Saxii Ononmtieon.