Editing Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch

{{short description|German theologian (1725–1778)}}
[[File:JohannErnstImmanuelWalch.jpg|right|thumb|Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch]]
'''Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch''' (29 August 1725 – 1 December 1778) was a German [[theology|theologian]], linguist, and naturalist from [[Jena]].

==Life==
The son of the theologian [[Johann Georg Walch]], he studied [[Semitic languages]] at the [[University of Jena]], and also [[natural science]] and [[mathematics]].  In 1749 he published ''Einleitung in die Harmonie der Evangelien'', and in 1750 was appointed professor extraordinarius of [[theology]]. Five years later he became professor ordinarius of [[logic]] and [[metaphysics]]; in 1759 he exchanged this for a professorship of [[rhetoric]] and [[poetry]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Walch, Johann Georg|volume=28|pages=251–252}}</ref>

Amongst his theological works were ''Dissertationes in Acta Apostolorum'' (1756–1761); {{lang|la|Antiquitales symbolicae}} (1772); and after his death appeared ''Observationes in Matthaeum ex Graecis inscriptionibus'' (1779). He also edited a periodical ''[[Der Naturforscher]]'' (1774–1778), and during the years 1749-1756 took an active part in editing the ''Zeitungen von gelehrten Sachen''.<ref name="EB1911"/>

{{Blockquote|"Most of Walch’s interests and publications were on topics in the humanities. These included early Christian church history; New Testament exegesis and commentary; Latin and Greek linguistics, literature, and inscriptions; Roman history and antiquities; Celtic religion; and the history of medicine."|Kihm & St. John<ref name=Kihm&St.John07 />|2007, p117}}

In the later part of his career Walch found interest in the natural sciences, particularly [[fossils]] and [[geology]].<ref name=Kihm&St.John07>{{Citation|author1=Robert Kihm |author2=James St. John |contribution=Walch's trilobite research — A translation of his 1771 trilobite chapter |editor=Donald G. Mikulic |editor2=Ed Landing |editor3=Joanne Kluessendorf|title=Fabulous fossils - 300 years of worldwide research on trilobites - ''New York State Museum Bulletin'' '''507''' |pages=115–40 |publisher=University of the State of New York |year=2007 |url=http://www1.newark.ohio-state.edu/Professional/OSU/Faculty/jstjohn/Kihm-and-St.John-2007.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720020520/http://www1.newark.ohio-state.edu/Professional/OSU/Faculty/jstjohn/Kihm-and-St.John-2007.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-20 }}</ref> One significant result was the beautifully illustrated, four-volume ''Die Naturgeschichte der Versteinerungen'' ("The Natural History of
Petrifactions"), released from 1768 to 1773, and also published in French and Dutch editions. A comprehensive chapter on trilobites in 1771
contains the first use of the word "[[trilobite]]" and predates other equally comprehensive treatments by 50 years.<ref name=Kihm&St.John07 />

{{Blockquote|"By the end of his career, he had completed over 80 publications (books, chapters, and articles) on various topics in the humanities and about 50 publications in natural history. He became ill in Summer 1778 with the onset of hypochondriac (abdominal) seizures... his death on December 1, 1778, [was] from intestinal infections."|Kihm & St. John<ref name=Kihm&St.John07 />|2007, p. 117}}

Walch died in Jena. His brother [[Christian Wilhelm Franz Walch]] was also theologian.

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Walch, Johann Ernst Immanuel}}
[[Category:1725 births]]
[[Category:1778 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century German Protestant theologians]]
[[Category:People from Saxe-Eisenach]]
[[Category:German entomologists]]
[[Category:18th-century German naturalists]]
[[Category:German male non-fiction writers]]


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