Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel the Younger
Encyclopedia
Theodor Gottlieb Hippel, from 1790 von Hippel (13 December 1775 in Gerdauen (now Zheleznodorozhny) – 10 June 1843 in Bromberg) was a Prussian statesman, the friend of E. T. A. Hoffmann, and the author of Frederick William III
's proclamation An Mein Volk
(1813). He belonged to the circle of Prussian Reformers, and supported many liberal policies, including bilingual education
in Silesia
.
, and remained in the care of his uncle, the satirist Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel the Elder. In 1790 the family was ennobled.
On finishing school, Hippel studied law at the Albertina in Königsberg. At the age of nineteen he was Auskultator, at twenty an articled clerk (Referendar), and at twenty-four King's Counsel (Justizrat) at Marienwerder (Kwidzyn)
. In 1810 he became an employee of the State Chancellor Karl August von Hardenberg
, and the next year joined the State Council, where he wrote the famous proclamation An Mein Volk
, in which for the first time a Prussian monarch directly addressed his subjects to explain his policies.
In 1814 he resigned from the ministry and returned to Marienwerder, where he was first vice-president and then president of the West Prussian administration of that city. In 1823 he became governor of Opole
.
He retired from public life in 1837. Having been obliged to sell his uncle's estate of Gut Leistenau two years earlier, he moved first to Berlin
, and then to Bromburg (Bydgoszcz) where he died in 1843.
, and Jeanette (1804–1850).
. Hippel was one of the founders in 1803 of the lodge at Marienwerder, Zur goldenen Harfe, under the jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge Zu den drei Weltkugeln (3WK) in Berlin. In 1815 he was elected Worshipful Master.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
's proclamation An Mein Volk
An Mein Volk
The proclamation An Mein Volk was issued by Frederick William III of Prussia on 17 March 1813 in Breslau . Addressed to his subjects, Preußen und Deutsche , it appealed for their support in the struggle against Napoleon...
(1813). He belonged to the circle of Prussian Reformers, and supported many liberal policies, including bilingual education
Bilingual education
Bilingual education involves teaching academic content in two languages, in a native and secondary language with varying amounts of each language used in accordance with the program model.-Bilingual education program models:...
in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
.
Life
Hippel was the son of Gotthard Friedrich Hippel (1743–1809), a pastor, and Henriette Stogler (1750–1779). After his mother's death the boy was sent to the Burgschule at KönigsbergKönigsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, and remained in the care of his uncle, the satirist Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel the Elder. In 1790 the family was ennobled.
On finishing school, Hippel studied law at the Albertina in Königsberg. At the age of nineteen he was Auskultator, at twenty an articled clerk (Referendar), and at twenty-four King's Counsel (Justizrat) at Marienwerder (Kwidzyn)
Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn is a town in northern Poland on the Liwa river, with 40,008 inhabitants . It has been a part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously in the Elbląg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kwidzyn County.-History:...
. In 1810 he became an employee of the State Chancellor Karl August von Hardenberg
Karl August von Hardenberg
Karl August Fürst von Hardenberg was a Prussian statesman and Prime Minister of Prussia. While during his late career he acquiesced to reactionary policies, earlier in his career he implemented a variety of Liberal reforms...
, and the next year joined the State Council, where he wrote the famous proclamation An Mein Volk
An Mein Volk
The proclamation An Mein Volk was issued by Frederick William III of Prussia on 17 March 1813 in Breslau . Addressed to his subjects, Preußen und Deutsche , it appealed for their support in the struggle against Napoleon...
, in which for the first time a Prussian monarch directly addressed his subjects to explain his policies.
In 1814 he resigned from the ministry and returned to Marienwerder, where he was first vice-president and then president of the West Prussian administration of that city. In 1823 he became governor of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
.
He retired from public life in 1837. Having been obliged to sell his uncle's estate of Gut Leistenau two years earlier, he moved first to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and then to Bromburg (Bydgoszcz) where he died in 1843.
Family
In 1798 Hippel married Jeanette Gruszczyńska (1783–1840). Their children were Theodor (1799–1881), Wilhelmina (1800–1835), Georg (1802–1878), who was to become a privy councillor at Gumbinnen (Gusev)Gusev
Gusev is a town and the administrative center of Gusevsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Pissa and Krasnaya Rivers, near the border with Poland and Lithuania, east of Chernyakhovsk. Population: -History:...
, and Jeanette (1804–1850).
Friendship with E. T. A. Hoffmann
The young Hippel first met Hoffmann in 1786, at a country house at Arnau (near Königsberg). They both attended the Burgschule and both embarked on legal careers, although Hippel advanced much faster because of his rank. They corresponded frequently between 1794 and 1809, but then lost contact until 1814, when Hippel found Hoffmann work at the Supreme Court in Berlin. During the Meister Floh affair, Hippel used his influence to defend Hoffmann, and was a frequent visitor during his final illness. His memoir, Erinnerungen an Hoffmann, was published in 1822.Freemasonry
Hippel joined the Freemasons in 1797. His lodge was the Viktoria zu den drei gekrönten Türmen in Marienburg (Malbork)Malbork
Malbork is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region , with 38,478 inhabitants . Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship...
. Hippel was one of the founders in 1803 of the lodge at Marienwerder, Zur goldenen Harfe, under the jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge Zu den drei Weltkugeln (3WK) in Berlin. In 1815 he was elected Worshipful Master.