The New International Encyclopædia/Gützlaff, Karl F. A.

GÜTZLAFF, gụts'lȧf, Karl F. A. (1803-51). A missionary, historian, and author, born at Pyritz, Pomerania. In the service of the Netherlands Missionary Society, he studied Chinese at Batavia, 1826-28. Severing his connection with the Missionary Society, he went to Singapore, and a few months later to Siam, where he engaged in translating the Scriptures into Siamese. His wife dying in 1831, he went to Macao, where, and later at Hong Kong, he assisted Morrison (q.v.) and Medhurst (q.v.) in translating the Bible into Chinese, and was incessantly active in Gospel labors. In personal appearance, Gützlaff was so like a native that he was able to pass for one when traveling in the costume of the country. His influence as physician and preacher was magnetic. He served for a while as interpreter to the British Government, assisting in the peace negotiations of 1842. He was especially active in raising up a native ministry and in diffusing information in Chinese. He made many voyages in countries near China. On his visit to Europe, his powerful addresses inspired many young men to enter upon Eastern careers, among them G. F. Verbeck (q.v.), Japan, and Sir Harry Parkes (q.v.), China. See his Journal of Three Voyages Along the Coast of China, with Notices of Siam, Corea, and the Loo Choo Islands (New York, 1833); Chinese History (2 vols., London, 1834); China Opened (revised by the Rev. Andrew Reed. 2 vols., London, 1838; a German edition of this work was also published, Stuttgart, 1847); Life of Taon-Kwang, Late Emperor of China (1851), besides many learned contributions to periodicals. He died at Hong Kong. One of the ablest and most efficient men in the opening of the East, his services have received scant recognition. A biography of Gützlaff by Gaïhan, Gützlaff der Missionar der Chinesen, was brought out at Duisburg in 1850.