Johann Theodor Katerkamp

Who was Johann Theodor Katerkamp?

Johann Theodor Katerkamp was a German Catholic church historian who was born in Ochtrup.

The son of a wealthy farmer, he studied theology and philosophy at the University of Münster from 1783 to 1787. In 1787 he received his ordination, and for several years worked as a tutor for the sons of Baron Droste-Vischering in Münster. From 1797 he resided in the home of Princess Amalie Gallitzin, where he remained until 1806 working as a private tutor.

In 1809 Katerkamp was appointed lecturer at the theological faculty of the University of Münster, where he subsequently became an associate professor of church history and moral theology, and full professor of church history and canon law. In 1820 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Landshut.

Katerkamp specialized in the field of patristics, and was the author of a highly acclaimed Kirchengeschichte, which was published in five volumes from 1823 to 1834. This work covered events of the Church up to the year 1153. Other significant works by Katerkamp were Ueber den Primat des Apostels Petrus und seiner Nachfolger, and a book involving Princess Amalie Gallitzin called Denkwürdigkeiten aus dem Leben der Fürstin Amalia von Gallitzin, gebornen Gräfin von Schmetta.