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.
White (Andrew Dickson), American educator, b. Homer, N.Y., 7 Nov. 1832. He studied at Yale, where he graduated in ’53; travelled in Europe, and in ’57 was elected professor of history and English literature in the University of Michigan. He was elected to the State Senate, and in ’67 became first president of Cornell, a university which he has largely endowed. Among his works we must mention The Warfare of Science (N.Y., ’76) and Studies in General History and in the History of Civilisation, ’85.
Whitman (Walt), American poet, b. West Hills, Long Island, N.Y., 31 May, 1819. Educated in public schools, he became a printer, and travelled much through the States. In the civil war he served as a volunteer army nurse. His chief work, Leaves of Grass, with its noble preface, appeared in ’55, and was acclaimed by Emerson as “the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed.” It was followed by Drum Taps, November Boughs and Sands at Seventy. This “good gray poet” has also written prose essays called Democratic Vietas and Specimen Days and Collect.
Wicksell (Knut), Swedish author and lecturer, b. Stockholm, 30 Dec. 1851, studied at Upsala, and became licentiate of philosophy in ’85. Has written brochures on Population, Emigration, Prostitution, etc., and anonymously a satirical work on Bible Stories, as by Tante Malin. Represented Sweden at the Paris Conference of ’89.
Wieland (Christopher Martin), German poet and novelist, b. near Biberach, 5 Sept. 1733. A voluminous writer, he was called the Voltaire of Germany. Among his works we notice Dialogues of the Gods, Agathon, a novel, and Euthanasia, in which he argues against immortality. He translated Horace, Lucian and Shakespeare. Died Weimer, 20 Jan. 1813. His last words were “To be or not to be.”
Wiener (Christian), Dr., German author of a materialistic work on the Elements of Natural Laws, 1863.
Wiessner (Alexander), German writer, author of an examination of spiritualism (Leipsic, 1875).
Wigand (Otto Friedrich), German publisher, b. Göttingen, 10 Aug. 1795. In 1832 he established himself in Leipsic, where he issued the works of Ruge, Bauer, Feuerbach, Scherr, and other Freethinkers. Died 31 Aug. 1870.
Wightman (Edward), English anti-Trinitarian martyr of Burton-on-Trent. Was burnt at Lichfield 11 April, 1612, being the last person burnt for heresy in England.
Wihl (Ludwig), German poet, b. 24 Oct. 1807. Died Brussels, 16 Jan. 1882.