Religious reformer; born in
Dresden,
Saxony, May 26, 1700; son of a leading minister of the electorate of
Saxony; was educated at
Halle and
Wittenberg.
When,
in 1720, he received his deceased father's estate from his guardians, he purchased a lordship in Lusatia, and married a sister of the
Prince of
Reuss.
When he was
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twenty-two years of age he became interested in the discipline and doctrines of the scattered Moravian brethren, invited some of them to settle on his estate, formed statutes for their government, and finally became a bishop among them, and one of their most ardent missionaries.
John Wesley passed some time at the home of
Zinzendorf, and from him imbibed notions of church organization and a missionary spirit upon which he afterwards acted.
He commended singing as a wonderful power in the church.
Zinzendorf was consecrated bishop in 1736, travelled over the Continent, visited
England, and sent missionaries to every part of the world.
In 1741 he came to
Pennsylvania, and established several Moravian settlements.
The first Indian Moravian congregation in
America was established by him, at Shemoeko,
Dutchess co., N. Y., in 1742, under the supervision of
Gottlob Butner.
Zinzendorf returned to
Europe in 1743, and spent the remainder of his life in the cause of the
Unitas Fratrum, or United Brethren.
He died in Herrnhut, May 9, 1760.