View source for Winkler Prins, Anthony (1817-1908)

   [[File:WinklerPrinsA.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''A. Winkler Prins 

Doopsgezind Jaarboekje 

(1909) 

'']]     Anthony Winkler Prins, born 31 January 1817, at Voorst, [[Netherlands|Netherlands]], died 4 January 1908, at Voorburg, studied theology at the University of Utrecht and the [[Amsterdam Mennonite Theological Seminary (Kweekschool)|Amsterdam Mennonite seminary]] and was a pastor at [[Tjalleberd (Friesland, Netherlands)|Tjalleberd]] 1841-50 and Veendam 1850-82, retiring in this year. He published a volume of sermons, <em>Leerre denen</em> (Heerenveen, 1851), and his farewell sermon, <em>Afscheidsrede,</em> from Veendam (Wildervank, 1882). But more than a theologian, Winkler Prins was a literary man; during his student years in [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]], he—with H. C. Dronrijp Uges, [[Harting, Dirk (1817-1892)|D. Harting]], [[Leendertz, Pieter (1817-1880)|P. Leendertz]], and [[Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de (1819-1894)|J. G. de Hoop Scheffer]]—was a co-founder of the literary club N.E.K., and in 1842-44 he published the periodical <em>Braga</em>, in which he and his friends sharply criticized the low level of contemporary Dutch literature. From 1838 Prins published articles in many Dutch literary periodicals and newspapers. He also published poems. The complete, long list of his writings is found in the <em>Levensbericht</em> (obituary) of the Dutch Association for Literature, of which he was a member. His chief publication is the Dutch illustrated encyclopedia (<em>Winkler Prins Encyclopedic)</em> in 16 vv. (Amsterdam, 1869-82; 6th revised edition at Amsterdam 1947-55), for which he did painstaking work.

Winkler Prins was a versatile man. Particularly during his Veendam period he was "the intellectual pioneer" of this area, successfully promoting better schools in Veendam, the improvement of agricultural methods, and many other public interests. In 1864 he was chosen as a member of the Second Chamber of Parliament, but declined.

Anthony Winkler Prins was the son of (M.D.) Jacob Prins and Johanna van Marie Winkler. In 1847 he was married to H. R. Klijnsma. H. A. Lunshof wrote a biographical novel on the life of Winkler Prins, entitled <em>Leven zonder demon</em> (Amsterdam, 1950).


= Bibliography =
<em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen </em>(1864): 170; (1908): 207.

<em>Doopsgezind Jaarboekje</em> (1909): 21-33 (with portrait).

Dyserinck, J. <em>Levensbericht van A. Winkler Prins. </em> Leiden, 1909.

Molhuysen, P. C. and  P. J. Blok. <em>Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek.</em> 10 vols. Leiden, 1911-1937: v. V, 538-40.


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