PLÜTSCHAU (Plütschow, Plütscho), Heinrich. Wesenberg bei Neustrelitz 1676 — Beidenfleth, Kr. Steinburg, Holstein 4.1.1752 (Hantzsch 1747). German Pietist Missionary in India. Educated in Berlin, then studied theology at Halle. Prompted by Francke to enter missionary career he was ordained in Copenhagen in 1705 andarrived at Trankebar (Tamilnadu) in 1706 together with Ziegenbalg. In their collaboration there Ziegenbalg concentrated on Tamil, while Plütschau preached in Portuguese and Danish, but also learned Tamil. He suffered of health problems and had to return to Europe. Left India in 1711 and arrived via London at Copenhagen in winter 1713. For a while taught Portuguese and Tamil at Halle, then director of the new missionary seminary in Copenhagen. It was soon closed as there were no suitable students and in 1714 Plütschau became minister of Beidenfleth in Holstein, where he worked more than 30 years, until 1750. Married 1714 Dorothea Dietrichsen (d. 1751), ten children.

Publications: Tamil translation of Luther’s Small Catechism. Halle c. 1713.

– Religious textbook in Portuguese.

Sources: V. Hantzsch, A.D.B. 53, 1907, 85-87; Mohanavelu 1993, 193; H. Paul in amycarmichel.bplaced.net/Pluetschau.htm; *M. Tamcke, “Heinrich Plütschau – the man in Ziegenbalg’s shadow”, Halle and the beginning of Protestant Christianity in India. 2. Halle 2006, 547-566; Wikipedia.