August von Kotzebue

John Osborne (University of Warwick)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.2: German-language Writing and Culture: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, 800-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

Born 3 May 1761
Died 23 Mar 1819
Activity 1780-1819

Places

Born in Germany
Active in Austria; Germany; Russia

Activities

Primary

Playwright / Dramatist
Theatre Director

Other

Civil servant
Diplomat

Resources

Kotzebue's Works

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August Kotzebue was born on 3 May 1761 in Weimar, Germany, into a respected family of merchants and public servants; his father was a consular official. He attended the

Gymnasium

in Weimar, where the Director was his uncle, the Enlightenment writer Johann Karl August Musäus, and went on to study law at the universities of Jena and Duisburg. In both of these cities he became actively involved in the theatre, founding amateur dramatic societies. In 1780 he returned to Weimar to practise law. After one year he obtained the post of Secretary in the Engineer's department in St. Petersburg and at the same time was made director of the German Theatre there. In 1783 he was appointed to the position of Recorder in Reval (Estonia), and two years later was made President of the Governmental…

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824 words

Citation: Osborne, John. "August von Kotzebue". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 March 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2559, accessed 25 November 2024.]