(originally Birnbaunm), a Protestant theologian of Germany, was born at Schwedt, Pomerania, in 1546. He studied law and theology, was for some time doctor and professor of theology at Frankfort, afterwards pastor at Brandenburg, and superintendent at Custrin. In 1589 he was appointed superintendent at Dresden, aid in the same year professor of theology and general superintendent at Wittenberg. In 1591 he was dismissed as Crypto- Calvinist, and imprisoned, but was finally released at the intercession of queen Elizabeth of England. Pierius then went to Bremen, and died May 12, 1616, superintendent. He wrote, Typus Doctrinae Orthodoxae de Persona et Officio Christi: — Examen und erlauterung der in der Leichenpredigt Nic. Crell's furgebrachten neuen Religions-Streitigkeiten: — Apologia und Verantwortung des uber Nicol. Crell nach gehultener Leichenprmedigt angestellten Examinis. See Winer, Handbuch der theol. Lit. 1:759; Jocher, Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexikon, s.v. (B.P.)