Helene Demuth
Encyclopedia
Helene "Lenchen" Demuth was the housekeeper
of Jenny and Karl Marx
. She assisted Marx in his political work and may also have been the mother of a child by Marx.
Вorn of peasant parents, she came in 1837 as a housemaid into the house of the government advisor Johann Ludwig von Westphalen to Trier
. In 1843 Karl Marx married Jenny von Westphalen, the daughter of the house, and Helene came with the pair. She stayed with them as a lifelong housekeeper, friend and political confidante.
On June 23, 1851 Helene Demuth gave birth to a boy, but never revealed the name of the father. The newborn Frederick Lewis Demuth (1851−1929) was given to a London family. Later Friedrich Engels
acknowledged the paternity to keep Karl Marx from the embarrassment; however, it did not end the rumors and speculation over the truth or falsehood of Marx's paternity. After Marx's death, in 1883, Helene Demuth moved to Engels's home, where she ran the household. Together with her, he arranged the publication Marx's literary remains.
In October 1890 she was diagnosed with cancer and died on November 4. In accordance with Jenny Marx's wishes, she was buried in the Marx family grave.
Housekeeper (servant)
A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
of Jenny and Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
. She assisted Marx in his political work and may also have been the mother of a child by Marx.
Вorn of peasant parents, she came in 1837 as a housemaid into the house of the government advisor Johann Ludwig von Westphalen to Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
. In 1843 Karl Marx married Jenny von Westphalen, the daughter of the house, and Helene came with the pair. She stayed with them as a lifelong housekeeper, friend and political confidante.
On June 23, 1851 Helene Demuth gave birth to a boy, but never revealed the name of the father. The newborn Frederick Lewis Demuth (1851−1929) was given to a London family. Later Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
acknowledged the paternity to keep Karl Marx from the embarrassment; however, it did not end the rumors and speculation over the truth or falsehood of Marx's paternity. After Marx's death, in 1883, Helene Demuth moved to Engels's home, where she ran the household. Together with her, he arranged the publication Marx's literary remains.
In October 1890 she was diagnosed with cancer and died on November 4. In accordance with Jenny Marx's wishes, she was buried in the Marx family grave.