Charles Lewis Gruneisen facts for kids

Charles Lewis Gruneisen (1806–1879) was an English journalist and a critic of music. He was known for his reporting during a war in Spain and for his writings about opera.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Charles Lewis Gruneisen was born in Bloomsbury, London, on November 2, 1806. His father, Charles Gruneisen, was from Stuttgart and became a British citizen in 1796. Charles Lewis was educated by a private teacher and at an academy in Pentonville. He also studied in the Netherlands.

Gruneisen began writing when he was young. In 1832, he became a sub-editor for The Guardian. This was a conservative weekly newspaper. The next year, in 1833, he became the editor of another London newspaper, the British Traveller. He also managed the international news section for the Morning Post and worked as a sub-editor there.

Reporting from the Carlist War

In March 1837, Gruneisen was sent to Spain. He went as a special reporter for the Morning Post. His job was to cover the First Carlist War, which was a civil war in Spain. He joined the Carlist army, which was one of the sides fighting in the war. He was even given an award called the cross of the Order of Charles III.

Gruneisen was present at the Carlist victory at the Battle of Villar de los Navarros in August 1837. He helped protect prisoners during this battle. He stayed with the army as it moved towards Madrid and during a difficult retreat. After another battle in October 1837, he wanted to leave Spain.

However, on October 19, he was captured by the opposing soldiers, called Christino soldiers. They thought he was a Carlist supporter and a spy. Luckily, Lord Palmerston, a British diplomat, helped him get released. Gruneisen returned to England in January 1838.

Later Career and Music Criticism

Grave of Charles Lewis Gruneisen in Highgate Cemetery

From 1839 to 1844, Gruneisen worked as the Paris reporter for the Morning Post. He found clever ways to send news quickly to London. He even used a pigeon post, where pigeons carried messages. After that, he edited The Great Gun, which was a weekly picture newspaper.

In 1845, he was a special reporter for the Morning Herald. He covered the trip of Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort in Germany. When he returned to England, Gruneisen became a music critic. He wrote about music for several newspapers, including The Britannia and the Illustrated London News.

He was especially known for his interest in the composer Wagner and for his knowledge of music of Spain. In 1868, he became the main music critic for The Athenæum. He held this important job for the rest of his life.

Charles Lewis Gruneisen passed away at his home in London on November 1, 1879. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery on November 7.

Other Interests and Contributions

Gruneisen was very involved in the world of opera. He helped start the Royal Italian Opera at Covent Garden in 1846. He also worked with famous composers like Giacomo Meyerbeer. Later, he had disagreements with the opera's manager, Frederick Gye.

Besides his work in journalism and music, Gruneisen was also a founder and director of the Conservative Land Society. This group helped people buy land. He was also a member of several important societies. These included the Royal Geographical Society and the Society of Arts. He also helped manage the Newspaper Press Fund, which supported journalists.

Published Works

Gruneisen wrote several books. His book The Opera and the Press was published in 1869. He also wrote Sketches of Spain and the Spaniards during the Carlist Civil War in 1874. This book was based on his experiences as a war reporter. He also wrote a short book about Meyerbeer and added notes to another book about the composer Mendelssohn.

Family Life

In 1839, Charles Lewis Gruneisen married Emma Jane Moore.

In Media

Charles Lewis Gruneisen's life was featured in a 2017 documentary film. The film was called Gruneisen: El primer corresponsal de guerra. In the film, Gruneisen was played by Álvaro de Paz.

See also

In Spanish: Charles Lewis Gruneisen para niños