Daniel Juslenius
Humanist of the day

Daniel Juslenius

Daniel Juslenius was a professor and rector at the Royal Academy of Turku, as well as Bishop of Porvoo and Skara. He not only compiled the first lexicon of Finnish but also translated the ‘Small Catechism’ into the vernacular Finnish: his word was literally heard as part of the Lutheran service for over a hundred years. As such he distinguished himself as an advocate of Finnish culture and one of his age’s most influential Finnish ecclesiastical figures.

Daniel Juslenius

Born June 10, 1676, Mietonen. Died July 17, 1752, Brunnsbro, Sweden

Master of Philosophy (priimus graduate), 1703, Royal Academy of Turku

Ordained as a minister in Västerås, near Stockholm, 1720
Doctor of Theology, 1732, University of Uppsala, Sweden
Rector, 1729, Royal Academy of Turku
Third professor of Theology, 1727–28, second professor, 1728–34, Royal Academy of Turku
Professor of Sacred Languages (Hebrew and Greek), 1712–27, Royal Academy of Turku
Lektor in rhetoric (Latin) and poetry, 1715–22, Rector, 1719, Västerås senior school
Assistant, Faculty of Philosophy, Royal Academy of Turku, 1705–1712
Deputy secretary to the Consistorium, Royal Academy of Turku, 1702

Bishop, diocese of Skara, central Sweden, 1744–1752
Bishop, diocese of Porvoo, 1734–1744
Minister, Finnish Parish of Turku, Finland, 1725
Representative of the clergy at the Finnish Diet, 1731, 1734, 17421743, 1751–1752

Honours
Monument, Mietonen in southwest Finland, 1952
University of Turku, Arts Faculty building JusleniaPhoto: Svenskt biografiskt lexikon

Written by Tomas Sjöblom
Translated by John Calton

Professor of Sacred Tongues

Having studied at the Turku cathedral school, Daniel Juslenius matriculated with distinction and enrolled for 1691 academic term at the Royal Academy of Turku. Just a month later Juslenius’ father died, leaving the young scholar in financial difficulties.

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Constructing a past for the Finns

Daniel Juslenius was arguably the first great fennophile. Encouraged by his mentor, Johannes Gezelius the younger, he both discoursed and wrote about Finnishness and the Finnish language already whilst studying in the early years of the eighteenth century.

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