Friedrich Thiersch
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Wilhelm Thiersch (June 17, 1784 – February 25, 1860), was a German
classical scholar and educationist.
). In 1809 he became professor at the gymnasium
at Munich
, and in 1826 professor of ancient literature at the University of Landshut; he was transferred in that year to Munich where he remained till his death. Thiersch, the "tutor of Bavaria" (praeceptor Bavariae), found an extremely unsatisfactory system of education in existence. There was a violent feud between the Protestant
"north" and the Catholic "south" Germans; Thiersch's colleagues, chiefly old monk
s, offered violent opposition to his reforms, and an attempt was made upon his life. His plans were nevertheless carried out, and became the governing principle of the educational institutions of Bavaria
.
Thiersch was an ardent supporter of Greek independence. In 1832 he visited Greece
, and his influence is said to have helped secure the throne of the newly created kingdom for Otto of Greece
. He wrote a Greek grammar
, a metrical translation of Pindar
, and an account of Greece (L'état actuel de la Grece in 1833).
Thiersch's biography was written by his son, H. W. J. Thiersch
(1866). Another son, Karl Thiersch
, was a renowned surgeon
, and yet another, Ludwig Thiersch
, was an influential painter. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof
in Munich.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
classical scholar and educationist.
Biography
He was born at Kirchscheidungen (now a part of Laucha an der Unstrut, Saxony-AnhaltSaxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
). In 1809 he became professor at the gymnasium
Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)
The Wilhelmsgymnasium of Munich is a school of academic secondary education. It is very famous for various reasons: it is the oldest grammar school in Munich; it has had several famous students; since 2004 it has been the only school in Bavaria that can claim to be a "Humanistisches Gymnasium";...
at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and in 1826 professor of ancient literature at the University of Landshut; he was transferred in that year to Munich where he remained till his death. Thiersch, the "tutor of Bavaria" (praeceptor Bavariae), found an extremely unsatisfactory system of education in existence. There was a violent feud between the Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
"north" and the Catholic "south" Germans; Thiersch's colleagues, chiefly old monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s, offered violent opposition to his reforms, and an attempt was made upon his life. His plans were nevertheless carried out, and became the governing principle of the educational institutions of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
Thiersch was an ardent supporter of Greek independence. In 1832 he visited Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and his influence is said to have helped secure the throne of the newly created kingdom for Otto of Greece
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
. He wrote a Greek grammar
Greek grammar
The grammar of Standard Modern Greek, as spoken in present-day Greece and Cyprus, is basically that of Demotic Greek, but it has also assimilated certain elements of Katharevousa, the archaic, learned variety of Greek imitating Classical Greek forms, which used to be the official language of Greece...
, a metrical translation of Pindar
Pindar
Pindar , was an Ancient Greek lyric poet. Of the canonical nine lyric poets of ancient Greece, his work is the best preserved. Quintilian described him as "by far the greatest of the nine lyric poets, in virtue of his inspired magnificence, the beauty of his thoughts and figures, the rich...
, and an account of Greece (L'état actuel de la Grece in 1833).
Thiersch's biography was written by his son, H. W. J. Thiersch
H. W. J. Thiersch
Heinrich Wilhelm Josias Thiersch , usually known as H. W. J. Thiersch, was a German philologist, theologian, and minister, active in the short-lived Catholic Apostolic Church.-Early life:...
(1866). Another son, Karl Thiersch
Karl Thiersch
Karl Thiersch, also spelled Carl Thiersch , was a German surgeon born in Munich. His father was educationist Friedrich Thiersch, his father-in-law was renowned chemist Justus von Liebig...
, was a renowned surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, and yet another, Ludwig Thiersch
Ludwig Thiersch
Ludwig Thiersch was a German painter, primarily of mythological and religious subjects and especially of ecclesiastical art, also influential in Greece.-Early life:...
, was an influential painter. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof
Alter Südfriedhof
The Alter Südfriedhof is a cemetery in Munich, Germany. It was founded by Duke Albrecht V as a plague cemetery in 1563 about half a kilometer south of the Sendlinger Gate between Thalkirchner and Pestalozzistraße.-History:...
in Munich.