Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Zinzendorf, Nicolaus Ludwig, Count 1700-1760

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,

Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf.

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 [499] 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.