Friedrich Schiller Biography and Quotes

Birthday: November 10th, 1759
Commemoration: May 9th, 1805
Nationality: German

45

Years Old

Famously Known For

Friedrich von Schiller is remembered as one of the greatest literary figures of Germany. He is considered to be the founder of modern-day German literature. Some of his greatest writings include The Robert, Maria Stuart, and Wallenstein, which is a trilogy.

Early Life

Friedrich Schiller was born to John Kaspar and Elisabeth Dorothea on November 10th, 1759 in Marbach. He received his education in Lorch. Growing up, he was fascinated by Cleric work that he wore black robes pretending to preach. His parents wanted him to be a priest hence requested a priest in their village to train him. He spent most of his youthful years reading the Bible which influenced most of his writing notably, his Play, ‘Die Rauber’ named after Father Moser.

Personal Life

Schiller married Charlotte von Lengefeld on February 1790 with whom they had four children, two sons, and two daughters. He is known to have had an extramarital affair while fleeing Stuttgart in 1782 with an army officer’s wife. He was thought to be a Freemason. He is also known to have studied medicine while at Stuttgart to find a cure for his illnesses.

Career

Friedrich started his career as a writer, and his first dramatized play was written while he was still a student. His plays gained massive popularity in Germany it led to his appointment as an honorary member of the French Republic later in his career.

While at Stuttgart, he worked as a Regimental Doctor in 1762

Having settled in Weimar in 1767, he was appointed the Professor of History and Philosophy in 1789. He wrote many of his work while here. With the help of Goethe, they founded the Weimar Theater.

Many years after his death in September of 2008, Friedrich Schiller was voted as the second most important Playwright in Europe.