Helene Demuth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helene Demuth
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| Born | 30 December 1820 Sankt Wendel, Principality of Lichtenberg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, German Confederation
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| Died | 4 November 1890 (aged 69) London, United Kingdom
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| Resting place | Highgate Cemetery |
| Nationality | Prussian, German |
| Known for | Housekeeper of Karl Marx, later household manager and political confidante of Frederich Engels |
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Frederick Lewis Demuth
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Henry Frederick Demuth
23 June 1851 London, United Kingdom
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| Died | 28 January 1929 (aged 77) Upper Clapton, London, United Kingdom
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| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Machinist |
| Organization | Amalgamated Engineering Union |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 1 |
Helene or Helena Demuth (born December 30, 1820 – died November 4, 1890) was a German housekeeper. She worked for the famous thinkers Jenny and Karl Marx. After Karl Marx passed away, she became the household manager and a trusted friend to Friedrich Engels.
Contents
Helene Demuth's Life Story
Helena Demuth was born on December 31, 1820, in a place called Sankt Wendel in what is now Saarland, Germany. Her parents were farmers.
Early Life and Moving to the Marx Household
In 1840, Helena and her older sister, Katharina, worked as maids in Trier. Helena worked for the von Westphalen family, who were Jenny Marx's parents. After about a year, both sisters returned to Sankt Wendel.
In April 1845, Helena joined the Marx family in Brussels. Jenny Marx's mother sent her to help them. Helena stayed with the Marx family for her entire life. She was not just a housekeeper; she was also a close friend and someone they trusted with important ideas. The family often called her Lenchen or Nim.
Working with Friedrich Engels
After Karl Marx died in March 1883, Helena Demuth moved to live with Friedrich Engels. She managed his home and helped him a lot. They worked together to organize and publish Karl Marx's writings that were left behind. During this work, they found a special manuscript. From this, Engels was able to put together the second volume of Marx's famous book, Das Kapital.
Helena's Final Years
In October 1890, Helena was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away in London on November 4, 1890, at 69 years old. She was buried in the Marx family grave, just as Jenny Marx had wished. Later, her remains were moved to the tomb of Karl Marx at Highgate Cemetery.
Frederick Demuth: A Member of the Family
On June 23, 1851, Helene Demuth gave birth to a boy named Henry Frederick Demuth. The birth certificate did not name his father.
Frederick's Early Life and Career
Soon after he was born, the baby, Frederick Lewis Demuth (1851–1929), went to live with a foster family in London. This family was named Lewis and belonged to the working class. As he grew up, Frederick learned to be a toolmaker. He became very active in the Amalgamated Engineering Union, which was a group for workers. He also helped start the Hackney branch of the Labour Party.
Frederick's Connection to the Marx Family
Eleanor Marx, who was Karl Marx's youngest daughter, met Frederick after her father died. She became good friends with him, and he became a part of the extended family circle.
