1. Reverend Johann Heinrich Schmelen, born Johann Hinrich Schmelen was a German missionary and linguist who worked in South Africa and South-West Africa.
13 Facts About Heinrich Schmelen
1. 2.
Heinrich Schmelen wanted to become a missionary and was advised to attend the missionaries' seminary of pastor Janicke in Berlin.
3.
Heinrich Schmelen accompanied Christian Albrecht to Pella in the Northern Cape from where he traveled the Oranje to serve a number of small nomadic pastoral tribes.
4.
In 1812 Heinrich Schmelen was ordered to trek into Namaland to found a missionary station near the Atlantic coast.
5.
Heinrich Schmelen traveled across much of Namaland and visited numerous tribes.
6.
Heinrich Schmelen named the place Steinkopf after Dr Steinkopf, one of the London pastors of the German congregation.
7.
One year after his arrival in Steinkopf a colleague took over the missionary work, and Heinrich Schmelen returned to Bethanie.
8.
The Orlam there had in the meantime started to raid cattle of the Herero and accused Heinrich Schmelen of wanting them to remain in poverty.
9.
Heinrich Schmelen lost a large part of his followers; his general success with the Orlam community was poor.
10.
Heinrich Schmelen set off to a second northwards journey in 1824 or 1825, again with the aim to find a hospitable place at the coast to improve logistics for the support of the missionaries in the hinterland.
11.
The London Missionary Society temporarily suspended Heinrich Schmelen, following a rumour that their relation was "sinful", that is: that they were not married.
12.
Heinrich Schmelen decided to stay in Komaggas and took over missionary work there.
13.
Heinrich Schmelen married Elisabeth Maria, sister of missionary Jan Bam, in 1834, and died in Komaggas on 26 July 1848.