Nationality Norwegian | Name Thomas Westen | |
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Born 13 September 1682 ( 1682-09-13 ) Trondheim, Norway Occupation Lutheran priest and missionary Known for Seminarium scholasticum, model for the later Seminarium Lapponicum Died April 9, 1727, Trondheim, Norway | ||
Filmen om thomas von westen
Thomas von Westen (13 September 1682 – 9 April 1727) was a Norwegian Lutheran priest and missionary.
He was born in Trondheim in Sor-Trondelag, Norway. He was educated for the priesthood in Copenhagen where he took his Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1698. He received his Cand.theol. in 1699. After completing his education, he started working as a priest in Helgeland. In 1709, he was appointed vicar of Veoy in Romsdal.
He was an active participant of the pietist association Syvstjernen along with his friend Nils Engelhart. He was also a pioneer of Christian mission among Sami people in Norway. He undertook three trips to northern Norway between 1716-1723. He founded the school Seminarium scholasticum in Trondheim in 1717. The school closed after Westen died in 1727. Seminarium scholasticum was a model for the later Seminarium Lapponicum which operated between 1752-1774.