Garlieb Merkel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garlieb Merkel
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| Born | Garlieb Helwig Merkel 21 October 1769 Lēdurga Parish, Kreis Riga, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire (Now Sigulda Municipality,  Latvia) |
| Died | 27 April 1850 (aged 80) Katlakalns Parish, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire (Now Ķekava Municipality, Latvia) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Baltic German |
| Period | 19th. century |
| Literary movement | Enlightenment |
| Notable works | Die Letten |
Garlieb Helwig Merkel was a Baltic German writer and activist. He was born on October 21, 1769, in Lēdurga Parish, which is now part of Sigulda Municipality in Latvia. He passed away on April 27, 1850, in Riga. Merkel is known for speaking up for the rights of Latvian and Estonian people. He was an early supporter of their cultures.
Contents
Who Was Garlieb Merkel?
Growing Up and Learning
Garlieb Merkel grew up in a rural area of what is now Latvia. His father was a priest. When he was 17, Merkel started working as a tutor. He taught children from wealthy German families. In 1790, he joined a group of thinkers in Riga. These thinkers shared new ideas about society.
Speaking Up for Latvians
Merkel was deeply affected by the ideas he learned. In 1796, he published a very important book. It was called Die Letten, which means "The Latvians." In this book, he wrote about the very difficult lives of Latvian peasants. He also described the cruel actions of the Baltic German landowners.
Merkel asked the Imperial Russian government to help the Latvians. He wanted them to improve the lives of the peasants. His book became very popular in German society. It was translated into French, Danish, and Russian. Later, in the 20th century, it was also translated into Latvian.
Life in Exile
Merkel's book made many landowners in Governorate of Livonia very angry. Because of this, Merkel was forced to leave his home. He moved to Weimar in Germany. In 1800, he moved to Berlin. There, he worked as a co-editor for a weekly newspaper called Der Freimutige. He worked on this paper from 1803 to 1806.
Return to Livonia and Later Works
In 1816, Garlieb Merkel returned to Livonia. He continued to write and publish books. In 1818, he released a book titled My Ten Years in Germany. He also wrote Images and Characters from My Life. This work was published in two volumes between 1839 and 1840.
Merkel also wrote a pamphlet called Free Latvians and Estonians. A pamphlet is a small booklet that shares ideas. This pamphlet was published in Leipzig in 1820.
Lasting Legacy
Today, a street in downtown Riga is named in Garlieb Merkel's honor. This shows how important his work was. He helped bring attention to the struggles of the Latvian and Estonian people.
