Friedrich Amelung facts for kids
Friedrich Ludwig Balthasar Amelung (born March 23, 1842 – died March 20, 1909) was a smart and busy person from the Baltic German community. He was a historian who studied how people lived and what they created in the past. He was also a successful businessman and a talented chess player who created special chess puzzles called endgame studies.
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Amelung's Early Life and Studies
Friedrich Amelung was born in 1842 at a place called Võisiku manor. This was in an area of the Russian Empire that is now Jõgeva County in Estonia. From 1862 to 1864, he went to the University of Dorpat. There, he studied philosophy, which is about big ideas and how we think. He also studied chemistry, which is about how things are made and how they react.
Running a Mirror Factory
Friedrich Amelung's family owned a mirror factory. It was called the Rõika-Meleski mirror factory. He took over running this factory from his father. He was the director for many years. He worked there from 1864 to 1879, and then again from 1885 to 1902.
A Passion for History
Besides his business, Amelung loved history. He wrote many articles and books about the culture and history of different places in Estonia. He wrote about towns like Viljandi, Tallinn, and Põltsamaa. His writings help us understand how people lived in these places long ago.
Amelung and Chess
Friedrich Amelung was very famous in the world of chess. He was known as a skilled player. He also created many interesting chess puzzles. These puzzles are called endgame studies. He made about 230 of them!
Chess Historian and Editor
From 1879 to 1885, Amelung lived in Reval (which is now Tallinn). During this time, he focused on studying the history of chess in the Baltic countries. He was the first person to do this in the Baltic States. He also helped share chess news with others. From 1888 to 1908, he was the editor of a chess magazine called Baltische Schachblätter.
Starting a Chess Society
In 1898, Amelung helped start an important group. It was called the Baltic Chess Society. This society brought together chess players and fans from the region. It helped chess become more popular.
Playing Against Masters
Amelung even played chess games against some very famous chess masters of his time. He played against people like Adolf Anderssen, Gustav Neumann, Carl Mayet, Emil Schallopp, Andreas Ascharin, and Emanuel Schiffers.
Later Life
Friedrich Amelung passed away in 1909 in a city called Riga. He was buried in Estonia, at the Kolga-Jaani cemetery.
