Lessing, Gotthold Ephraïm |
| DRAMATIST (HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE) |
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BORN 22 Jan 1729, Kamenz, Opper-Lausitz - DIED 15 Feb 1781, Braunschweig GRAVE LOCATION Braunschweig: Magni Friedhof, Gerstäckerstrasse (II 1) |
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Gotthold Ephraïm Lessing was educated at the Royal School in
Meissen (1741-1746) and studied theology, medicin and philosophy
in Leipzig (1746-1748). He translated French plays for Friederike
Caroline Neuber and in 1748 her group performed a play of his
own, "Der Junge Gelehrte". In November 1748 he moved to Berlin, where he met Voltaire in 1750 and worked for the Berlinischen Pivilegierten Zeitung. He made himself a name as a critic and he did translation work for Voltaire, but it seems their friendship soon ended. In 1755 his "Miß Sara Sampson" was a big success and in the same year he returned to Leipzig. After a period of financial difficulties he once move moved to Berlin in 1758. From 1760 until 1765 he was secretary to B.F. von Tauentzien, the Prussian commander in Breslau. In 1767 his "Minna von Barnhelm" became the first comedy to show contemporary German life. After another period in Berlin he went to Hamburg to work for the new Deutsche Nationaltheater. In 1770 he became librarian at Wolfenbüttel, where a unique collection of old manuscripts was held. In 1776 his finances were finally sufficient to marry Eva König, to whom he had been engaged since 1771. But she died after giving birth to a son, the child dying as well. In Wolfenbüttel he wrote his famous play "Nathan der Weise" (1779, first performed 4 Apr 1783 in Berlin). In 1781 he suddenly died during a trip to Braunschweig. Related persons • visited Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott • met Voltaire Sources • Winkler Prins Encyclopedie (editie 1909), 1909 • Aubert, Joachim, Handbuch der Grabstätten berühmten Deutscher, Österreicher und Schweizer, Deutscher Kunstverlag, München, 1973 • Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781) |
| Images | ||
 The grave of Gotthold Ephraïm Lessing at the Magni Friedhof, Braunschweig. Picture by Androom (23 Mar 2007) |
 The statue of Gotthold Ephraïm Lessing by Georg Ferdinand Howaldt in Braunschweig. Picture by Androom (23 Mar 2007) |
 The house in front of the library in Wolfenbüttel where G.E. Lessing lived. Picture by Androom (25 Mar 2007) |
 The grave of Gotthold Ephraïm Lessing at the Magni Friedhof, Braunschweig. Picture by Androom (23 Mar 2007) |
