Wetzel (or Wezel), Johann Kaspar
Wetzel (or Wezel), Johann Kaspar
a learned German writer, was born at Meiningen, Feb 22, 1691 as the son of a poor shoemaker. He was educated at the expense of Bernard, the duke of Saxe-Meiningen, at Halle and Jena. After teaching awhile, he became secretary to a diplomat, and in that capacity visited Italy and Switzerland. He eventually taught again privately, and finally became preacher of the duchess-dowager (1724) and at Romhild (1728), where he died, Aug. 6, 1755, leaving several works, of which we mention, hymnopeographia, oder hist. Lebensbeschreibung der beriihmtesten Liederdichter (Herrnstadt, 1719-28, 4 pts.) Hymnologia Sacra (Nuremb. 1728): Hymnologia Passionalis (ibid. 1733): Hymnologia Polenmica (Arnstadt, 1735): Analecta hymanicad, oder merkwrdige Nachlesen zr Liederhistorie (Gotha, 1751-55, 2 vols.). See Dring, Die gelehrter Theologen Deutschlands, 4:712 sq.; Hoefer. Nouv. Biog. Gneral, s.v. (B. P.)