Franz Albert Schultz

Franz Albert Schultz (25 September 1692 – 19 May 1763) was a Prussian divine and superintendent.

Biography

Schultz was born 25 September 1692 in Neustettin (Szczecinek). He studied at the University of Halle-Wittenberg philosophy under Christian Wolff and divinity. At this time he followed August Hermann Francke's pietism. In 1723, having declined becoming a professor, he became educator at the Berlin Cadet Corps and in 1724 field preacher in Mohrungen. In 1728 he became Archpriest and Superintendent in Rastenburg, 1731 professor of divinity at the University of Königsberg.^[1] Immanuel Kant was among his students.

With the influence of Wolff and Francke's pietism, Schultz's theology can be partly seen as an attempt to synthesize Pietism and Wolffian ideas by formulating Pietistic ideas using Wolffian methodology and terminology.^[2]

As Superintendent, Schultz instituted the first Prussian teacher seminaries, founded more than 600 schools, and paved the way to compulsory education. Under Frederick II, who was skeptical of pietism, his influence sank. He died 19 May 1763 in Königsberg.

See also

• Martin Knutzen