Heinrich Schmelen

Reverend Johann Heinrich Schmelen
A historic drawing of head and torso of a middle-aged white man in a dark clerical dress. He wears short, dark hair, the face is filigree with small lips and wrinkles on his cheek.
Heinrich Schmelen
Personal details
Born7 January 1776
Kassebruch, today a suburb of Hagen im Bremischen
Died26 July 1848
Komaggas
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Reverend Johann Heinrich Schmelen, born Johann Hinrich Schmelen (7 January 1776 – 26 July 1848) was a German missionary and linguist who worked in South Africa and South-West Africa. Traveling through the area of today's northern South Africa and central and southern Namibia he founded the mission stations at Bethanie and Steinkopf and discovered the natural harbour at Walvis Bay. Together with his wife Zara he translated parts of the Bible into Khoekhoegowab (Damara/Nama) and published a dictionary.