Nicholas Louis, Count of, the founder of the Herrnhuters, was born at Dresden, in 1700. His father, who had been one of the Elector's councillors, died early, and his education was superintended by his grandmother, a lady of great piety, very largely tinctured, however, with enthusiasm. From her the young Zinzendorf imbibed the opinions of the pietists, then widely prevalent in Germany, and which seem to have taken a strong hold of his mind, even in his earliest years; for it is said that, when a child, he wrote letters to the Saviour, and threw them out of the window, in the expectation that they would thus reach their destination. At the age of ten he was sent to Halle, and from thence he was removed to Wittenberg, by the orders of his uncle, who wished him to be prepared for the active duties of life, and who believed that his piety might be exercised by the teaching of the Wittenberg divines, the great opponents of the pietists. Zinzendorf's opinions, however, remained unaltered, and he devoted his time mainly to theological studies. On leaving the university, he travelled in Holland and France, and then returned to Dresden, where he received a post in the government, which he relinquished in a few years from utter disinclination. In 1722 he married, and gave a settlement on his estates to some Moravian brethren. This settlement, on which the name of "Herrnhut" (God's protection) was conferred, gradually increased in numbers, and the count determined to devote himself to their religious instruction. To qualify himself for his work, he underwent an examination in theology, and was regularly ordained. Many obstacles occurred that would have damped the courage of any other; but he persevered. In 1736 he was banished from his native land, the government looking with a jealous eye on his innovations; but this sentence was repealed in 1747. In the meantime, he had been consecrated bishop of the Moravian Church in Berlin, and had set out on his missionary travels. During the course of his journeyings, he visited the West Indies and North America, directing much of his care to the instruction of the native Indians. On his return to Europe, he busied himself in visiting and inspecting the various societies of United Brethren which had been established in different countries, in obtaining for them legal recognition, and in organizing their missions and the administration of their affairs. He also published many works for the edification of his followers, which exhibit a strange mixture of sincere piety and extravagant mysticism, verging at times upon blasphemy. He died at Herrnhut in 1760.