Henry Boernstein facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry Boernstein
Engraving from a photograph by Brown found in Edwards's Great West of 1860
United States Consul at Bremen
In office 1861–1865
Personal details
Born	November 4, 1805 Hamburg
Died	September 10, 1892(1892-09-10) (aged 86) Vienna

Henry Boernstein (born November 4, 1805 – died September 10, 1892) was a very busy and important German-American. In Europe, his name was Heinrich Börnstein. He was a newspaper publisher, writer, soldier, and even an actor! He helped keep the state of Missouri on the side of the Union during the American Civil War. He also knew famous thinkers like Karl Marx.

Henry Boernstein's Life Story

Early Life in Europe

Henry Boernstein was born in Hamburg, Germany. In 1813, his family had to leave Hamburg. They moved to a city called Lemberg (now L'viv in Ukraine). This was because of fighting between armies in Europe.

He later studied at the University of Lemberg. After that, he read medical books in Vienna. He then joined the Austrian army for five years. He left the army and went back to Vienna. There, he started working in journalism and theater.

On November 13, 1829, he married Marie Steltzer, an actress. Henry became a successful actor and theater manager. He toured many cities in the Austrian Empire. He also managed theaters in places like St. Pölten and Linz. In 1841, he and his wife toured Germany. They were very successful.

Henry had strong political ideas. These ideas led him to Paris, France, in 1842. He tried to start a German opera company there, but it didn't do well. He became friends with famous artists like Franz Liszt and Alexandre Dumas. He also managed an Italian opera company.

From 1844 to 1845, he published a newspaper called Vorwärts! (which means "Advance!"). This newspaper became very important for thinkers like Karl Marx. Other famous people like Friedrich Engels also wrote for it. The French government shut down Vorwärts! in 1845. Many people connected to the paper were forced to leave or were put in prison.

Henry stayed in Paris. He wrote about political events for newspapers that couldn't afford their own reporters. He helped organize a military group in 1848. This group wanted to help a revolt in Germany. He collected many pamphlets and newspapers during the 1848 revolution in Paris. He later gave this collection to a library in St. Louis. He left France in January 1849.

Adventures in America

Henry Boernstein arrived in the United States. He first went to New Orleans. Then he visited St. Louis, Missouri. He settled in Highland, Illinois, for a short time. There, he worked as a doctor using water-cure methods.

In March 1850, he was offered a job in St. Louis. He became the editor of a German newspaper called Anzeiger des Westens ("Western Reporter"). Soon, he owned the newspaper. To make the newspaper more popular, he published exciting stories. These stories were written by famous European writers.

In 1850, he wrote a popular novel called Die Geheimnisse von St. Louis (The Mysteries of St. Louis). This book was translated into English, French, and Czech. It was a big success in America and Germany.

Henry's newspaper used a lively style of reporting. This sometimes made people angry. He supported the new Republican Party. He also helped a former US Senator named Thomas Hart Benton.

Before the Civil War began, Henry Boernstein owned a brewery, a hotel, and several saloons. In 1859, he opened an opera house in St. Louis. It closed when he went to war in 1861.

In 1861, tensions grew in St. Louis. People who supported the South wanted to take over the US Arsenal. Henry helped organize a military group to protect it. He was chosen as a colonel for the Second Missouri Volunteer Regiment. His group helped move weapons to safety. He also took part in the arrest of the Missouri State Militia. He wrote a letter to President Lincoln about what happened. When General Nathaniel Lyon moved into Missouri, Henry commanded the troops in Jefferson City, the state capital.

After his military service, President Lincoln appointed Henry Boernstein as the United States Consul in Bremen, Germany.

Return to Europe

Henry Boernstein served as the US Consul in Bremen during the entire Civil War. He stayed in Europe even after his term ended in 1866. This was because his newspaper, the Anzeiger, had closed.

From 1869 to 1871, he managed a theater in Vienna, Austria. Later, he reviewed plays for another theater. He also worked as a photographer for a while. In 1878, he retired to write his life story. His memoirs were published in a Chicago newspaper and as a two-volume book.

Today, a street in Vienna is named after him. Sadly, his grave in Vienna was destroyed in 1941.

Images for kids

• 

  Engraving from a photograph by Brown found in Edwards's Great West of 1860