Johann Rudolf Iselin

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Johann Rudolf Iselin (born June 19, 1705 in Basel ; † March 3, 1779 there ) was a Swiss lawyer , historian and editor .

life and work

Iselin was the son of the Basel councilor and silk manufacturer Johann Jakob Iselin (1675–1734) and Maria (1682–1751), née Elbs.

Iselin studied law at the University of Basel from 1717 to 1725 . He then traveled through Germany , the Netherlands and France . 1726 received his doctorate in law in the same year. In the same year Iselin married Agnes Louis, daughter of councilor Daniel Louis, and was appointed a member of the Berlin Academy . Two years later he was head of the theological alumni and from 1734 as an assessor at the law faculty of the University of Basel. Iselin took an early interest in questions of international law, which ultimately led him to history, in particular to historiography . From 1734 to 1736 he edited two volumes of the Chronicle Chronicon Helveticum by Aegidius Tschudi .

In 1736 he was appointed court counselor to the Margrave of Baden-Durlach . Iselin took over the editing of the Basler Zeitung in 1743 and developed a lively political activity in the following twenty years, which brought him into contact with the most influential Swiss and foreign personalities in politics and science.

Above all, Iselin distrusted the politics of the Bishop of Basel and the friendly relations between this prince of the church and France. Iselin also took the view that if France and Prussia ally, the Protestant Confederates would be in danger. So it was good news for Iselin when Prussia and England fought together in the Seven Years' War against France and other European powers.

Iselin was appointed a member of the Florentine Academy in Cortona and the Arcadian Academy in Rome in 1750 . He was also a member of the Paris and Nancy Academies of Science . He was appointed professor of Roman and public law in Basel in 1757.

From 1759 to 1776 Iselin was dean of the law faculty and from 1763 to 1764 its rector. Until his death he taught constitutional law at the University of Basel. He continued his journalistic activities and continued to write articles for the Basler Zeitung as an editor until 1768.

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personal data
SURNAME Iselin, Johann Rudolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss lawyer, historian and editor
DATE OF BIRTH June 19, 1705
PLACE OF BIRTH Basel
DATE OF DEATH March 3, 1779
Place of death Basel