Jacob August Franckenstein
Encyclopedia
Jacob August Franckenstein (27 December 1689 in Leipzig
– 10 May 1733 in Leipzig) was the main editor of the first two volumes of Johann Heinrich Zedler
's Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon
(Great Complete Universal Lexicon), the most important encyclopedia published in Germany
in the 18th century.
Franckenstein was born in Leipzig on 27 December 1689, the son of the lawyer and historian Christian Gottfried Franckenstein.
In August 1713 he acquired a Master's degree in philosophy in Leipzig, and in 1719 he received a doctorate in law in Erfurt
.
From 1721 to 1732 he was professor of natural and international law at the University of Leipzig.
In 1722 he was temporarily a Councilor at Zerbst
, the seat of government of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
, but after two years he returned to teaching at the university.
In 1731, Zedler asked Franckenstein to be the lead editor of the planned Universal Lexicon.
He already had some experience with the book market.
He was a colleague and confidant of Professor Johann Burckhardt Mencke, publisher of the journal "New Learned Works" and other periodicals, a supporter of Zedler's mammoth project.
The first two volumes were prepared under under Franckenstein's leadership.
After two years, at a time of financial crisis, he fell out with Zedler and resigned from the job. His successor was Paul Daniel Longolius
.
Franckenstein died in Leipzig two months later, on 10 May 1733.
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
– 10 May 1733 in Leipzig) was the main editor of the first two volumes of Johann Heinrich Zedler
Johann Heinrich Zedler
Johann Heinrich Zedler was a bookseller and publisher. His most important achievement was the creation of a German encyclopedia, the Grosses Universal-Lexicon ,...
's Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon
Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon
The Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon aller Wissenschafften und Künste is a 68-volume German encyclopedia published by Johann Heinrich Zedler between 1731 and 1754...
(Great Complete Universal Lexicon), the most important encyclopedia published in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the 18th century.
Franckenstein was born in Leipzig on 27 December 1689, the son of the lawyer and historian Christian Gottfried Franckenstein.
In August 1713 he acquired a Master's degree in philosophy in Leipzig, and in 1719 he received a doctorate in law in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
.
From 1721 to 1732 he was professor of natural and international law at the University of Leipzig.
In 1722 he was temporarily a Councilor at Zerbst
Zerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
, the seat of government of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst
Anhalt-Zerbst was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Potsdam-Mittelmark and Wittenberg, the city of Dessau and the districts of Köthen, Schönebeck and Jerichower Land.- History :...
, but after two years he returned to teaching at the university.
In 1731, Zedler asked Franckenstein to be the lead editor of the planned Universal Lexicon.
He already had some experience with the book market.
He was a colleague and confidant of Professor Johann Burckhardt Mencke, publisher of the journal "New Learned Works" and other periodicals, a supporter of Zedler's mammoth project.
The first two volumes were prepared under under Franckenstein's leadership.
After two years, at a time of financial crisis, he fell out with Zedler and resigned from the job. His successor was Paul Daniel Longolius
Paul Daniel Longolius
Paul Daniel Longolius was the main editor of volumes 3 through 18 of Johann Heinrich Zedler's Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon from 1733 to 1739, replacing Jacob August Franckenstein, who had edited the first two volumes...
.
Franckenstein died in Leipzig two months later, on 10 May 1733.