August Zang
Encyclopedia
August Zang, a nineteenth century Austrian entrepreneur best known for founding the Viennese daily "Die Presse
". He also had a major influence on French baking methods, but his role in this regard is less-known, in part because of Zang's own later efforts.
Son of Christophe Boniface Zang, a prominent Vienna surgeon, August Zang became an artillery officer before going to Paris (probably in 1837) to found a famous Viennese Bakery ("Boulangerie Viennoise"), which opened in 1838 or 1839. The bakery was quickly imitated and its Austrian kipfel became the French croissant
. Baking historians (who often - erroneously - qualify Zang as "Baron", "Count" or "Royal Chamberlain") sometimes claim he introduced the baguette
, but this is not supported by any period source. He did however introduce the Viennese steam oven, which became standard in France.
In 1848, when censorship was lifted in Austria, he returned to Vienna and founded "Die Presse
", a daily newspaper which still exists today (though after several interruptions). The paper was modeled on Émile de Girardin
's "La Presse" and introduced many of the same popularizing journalistic techniques, notably a low price (supported by volume and advertising), serials and short, easily understood paragraphs. In 1864, a dispute led two key journalists to leave "the Press" and found "The New Free Presse' (Neue Freie Presse). (The latter is sometimes erroneously given as the name of Zang's own paper.) The original "Die Presse" was soon known as "The Old Press" and in 1867 Zang sold it.
In his remaining years he owned a bank and a mine in Styria, the site of which is still known today as "Zangtal" ("Zang Valley"). When he died, he was most known as a wealthy press magnate; his obituary in "Die Presse" said only that he had spent some years in Paris, omitting all mention of his role in baking. His ornate tomb in Vienna is still a tourist attraction.
Die Presse
Die Presse is an Austrian daily newspaper based in Vienna. It was founded in 1946 by World War II resistance fighter Ernst Molden and stands in tradition of the Viennese newspapers "Die Presse" and "Neue Freie Presse" . The paper covers general news topics...
". He also had a major influence on French baking methods, but his role in this regard is less-known, in part because of Zang's own later efforts.
Son of Christophe Boniface Zang, a prominent Vienna surgeon, August Zang became an artillery officer before going to Paris (probably in 1837) to found a famous Viennese Bakery ("Boulangerie Viennoise"), which opened in 1838 or 1839. The bakery was quickly imitated and its Austrian kipfel became the French croissant
Croissant
A croissant is a buttery flaky pastry named for its distinctive crescent shape. It is also sometimes called a crescent, from the French word for "crescent". Croissants are made of a leavened variant of puff pastry...
. Baking historians (who often - erroneously - qualify Zang as "Baron", "Count" or "Royal Chamberlain") sometimes claim he introduced the baguette
Baguette
A baguette is "a long thin loaf of French bread" that is commonly made from basic lean dough...
, but this is not supported by any period source. He did however introduce the Viennese steam oven, which became standard in France.
In 1848, when censorship was lifted in Austria, he returned to Vienna and founded "Die Presse
Die Presse
Die Presse is an Austrian daily newspaper based in Vienna. It was founded in 1946 by World War II resistance fighter Ernst Molden and stands in tradition of the Viennese newspapers "Die Presse" and "Neue Freie Presse" . The paper covers general news topics...
", a daily newspaper which still exists today (though after several interruptions). The paper was modeled on Émile de Girardin
Émile de Girardin
Émile de Girardin , was a French journalist, publicist, and politician. He was born in Paris in 1802, the son of General Alexandre de Girardin and of Madame Dupuy , wife of a Parisian advocate....
's "La Presse" and introduced many of the same popularizing journalistic techniques, notably a low price (supported by volume and advertising), serials and short, easily understood paragraphs. In 1864, a dispute led two key journalists to leave "the Press" and found "The New Free Presse' (Neue Freie Presse). (The latter is sometimes erroneously given as the name of Zang's own paper.) The original "Die Presse" was soon known as "The Old Press" and in 1867 Zang sold it.
In his remaining years he owned a bank and a mine in Styria, the site of which is still known today as "Zangtal" ("Zang Valley"). When he died, he was most known as a wealthy press magnate; his obituary in "Die Presse" said only that he had spent some years in Paris, omitting all mention of his role in baking. His ornate tomb in Vienna is still a tourist attraction.