Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel
Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel was a notable Prussian figure born in 1741 in Gerdauen, Prussia. He started his education in theology at the University of Königsberg but did not complete his degree. His early exposure to various societal layers, including a stint as a tutor for a wealthy family and travels in Russia, shaped his perspectives on social issues. In the 1770s, Hippel ventured into politics, ultimately becoming the mayor of Königsberg after serving on the city council. His political career, which spanned until his death in 1796, coincided with a prolific writing career, though much of his work was published anonymously. Hippel's notable writings include "Über die Ehe," a discourse on marriage published in 1774, and "Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Weiber," published in 1792, which addressed women’s rights and aimed to engage a male audience. He also wrote comedies and satires, contributing to the literary landscape of his time. His multifaceted contributions to both politics and literature reflect the complexities of his era and interests.
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Subject Terms
Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel
Author
- Born: January 31, 1741
- Birthplace: Gerdauen, Prussia (now Germany)
- Died: April 23, 1796
- Place of death: Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia)
Biography
Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel was born in Gerdauen, Prussia, in 1741. His father was a school superintendent of noble blood. In 1756, Hippel went to the University of Königsberg as a student of theology. While Hippel completed his coursework by 1760, he never received his official degree.
While working and attending school in Königsberg, Hippel was given the opportunity to travel and study in Russia. While in Russia, Hippel was exposed to the important members of society. When he returned, Hippel took a job as a tutor for a wealthy family, further exposing him to the upper echelons of society. In 1762, Hippel returned to the university to study law, and was accepted to the bar in 1765.
Hippel became involved in politics in the 1770’s. By 1778, at age thirty-seven, he already held a city council seat. Two years later, with the death of the mayor, Hippel himself was appointed to the seat of Mayor of Königsberg, one of the largest and most important cities in East Prussia, until his death in 1796. While Hippel stayed in the spotlight due to his political involvement, it was little known that Hippel also spent a lot of time writing, mainly because much of his work was published anonymously.
His first published work was Rhapsodie in 1763, which contained poetry and commentary on love. Hippel also wrote books concerning the roles of women and marriage which became vastly popular in Hippel’s lifetime. Über die Ehe (on marriage) was first published in 1774, and saw two additional printings in his lifetime. Perhaps one of his most influential and important works was his Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Weiber (on improving the status of women), published in 1792, which was written for an audience of men concerning the subject of women’s rights. Hippel also published a handful of comedies and satires, including Kreuz-und Querzüge des Ritters A bis Z: Von dem Verfasser der Lebensläufe nach aufsteigender Linie, (crusadings of the knights A to Z), also published in 1792.