Pufendorf
or PUFFENDORF, SAMUEL, BARON VON, a German writer on the law of nature and nations; born in 1632. He studied theology and law at Leipsic and Jena, and in 1660 appeared his "Elements of General Jurisprudence." In 1661 he became professor of the Law of Nature and of Nations at Heidelberg. In 1667 he published his work "The Commonwealth of Germany," which, from the boldness of its attacks on the constitution of the German Empire, caused a profound sensation. In 1670 he went to Sweden, became Professor of Natural Law in the University of Lund, and brought out his chief work, w "Natural Law and the Law of Nations."
Other famous works are "On the Spiritual Monarchy of the Pope" (a vindica- PUFF ADDER tion of Protestantism); "History of Sweden," "History of Charles Gustavus," etc. Died 1694.