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Wolf (FRIEDRICH AUGUST a German)

FRIEDRICH AUGUST, a German scholar and critic; born in Haynrode, near Nordhausen, Prussia, Feb. 15, 1759. Before leaving the gymnasium of Nordhausen, he had not only read the chief ancient authors, but had acquired an extensive knowledge of the languages and literatures of France, England, Italy and Spain. In 1777 he entered the University of Göttingen, but was an ir- FRIEDRICH AUGUST WOLF regular attendant at professors' lectures, giving himself chiefly up to intense and solitary study. As a consequence he was hardly known, and where known not particularly liked. In 1782 he was appointed rector of the Bürgerschule at Osterode in the Harz, and next year he was called to Halle as Professor of Philosophy and Paideutics. Here he labored upward of 20 years with the WOLFE highest enthusiasm for the cause of education. His ambition was to produce a great race of teachers, who should be instinct with the noblest and purest spirit of antiquity. In 1793 appeared his great work, "Prolegomena ad Homerum" (3d and 4th eds. 1872 and 1875).

In 1824 he went S. on a voyage for the sake of his health, but died in Marseille, Aug. 8, of that year.