A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and NationsWheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Religion
A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations
Wheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Free thought -- Biography
Watts (John), brother of Charles, b. Bedminster, Bristol, 2
Oct. 1834. His father was a Wesleyan preacher, and he was converted
to Freethought by his brother Charles. He became sub-editor of the
Reasoner, and afterwards for a time edited the National Reformer. He
edited Half Hours With Freethinkers with "Iconoclast," and published
several pamphlets, Logic and Philosophy of Atheism, Origin of Man,
Is Man Immortal? The Devil, Who were the Writers of the New Testament,
etc. Died 31 Oct. 1866.
Watts (of Lewes, Sussex), author of the Yahoo, a satire in verse
(first published in 1833), also The Great Dragon Cast Out.
Webber (Zacharias), Dutch painter, who in the seventeenth century
wrote heretical works On the Temptation of Christ and The Seduction
of Adam and Eve, etc. He defended Bekker, whom he surpassed in
boldness. Under the pen name J. Adolphs he wrote The True Origin,
Continuance and Destruction of Satan. Died in 1679.
Weber (Karl Julius), German author, b. Langenburg, 16 April,
1767. Studied law at Erlangen and Göttingen. He lived for a while
in Switzerland and studied French philosophy, which suited his
satirical turn of mind. He wrote a history of Monkery, 1818-20;
Letters of Germans Travelling in Germany, '26-28; and Demokritos,
or the Posthumous Papers of a Laughing Philosopher, '32-36. Died
Kupferzell, 19 July, 1832.
Weitling (Wilhelm), German social democrat, b. Magdeburg, 1808. He
was a leader of "Der Bund der Gerechten," the League of the Just,
and published at Zürich The Gospel of Poor Sinners. He also wrote
Humanity, As It Is and As It Should Be. He emigrated to America,
where he died 25 Jan. 1871.
Wellhausen (Julius), German critic, b. Hameln 17 May, 1844, studied
theology at Göttingen, and became professor in Griefswald, Halle,
and Marburg. Is renowned for his History of Israel in progress, '78,
etc., and his Prolegomena to the same, and his contributions to the
Encyclopædia Britannica.
Westbrook (Richard Brodhead), Dr., American author, b. Pike co.,
Pennsylvania, 8 Feb. 1820. He became a Methodist preacher in '40,
and afterwards joined the Presbyterians, but withdrew about '60,
and has since written The Bible: Whence and What? and Man: Whence and
Whither? In '88 Dr. Westbrook was elected President of the American
Secular Union, and has since offered a prize for the best essay on
teaching morality apart from religion.
Westerman (W. B.) During many years, from 1856-68, an active
co-operator on De Dageraad.
Westra (P.), Dutch Freethinker, b. 16 March, 1851. Has for some years
been active secretary of the Dutch Freethought society, "De Dageraad."
Wettstein (Otto), German American materialist, b. Barmen, 7 April,
1838. About '48 his parents emigrated. In '58 he set up in business as
a jeweller at Rochelle. He contributed to the Freethinkers' Magazine,
The Ironclad Age, and other journals, and is treasurer of the National
Secular Union.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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