Summary:
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'''Thomas Abbt''' (25 November 1738 – 3 November 1766) was a [[Germany|German]] [[mathematician]] and writer.
Born in [[Ulm]], Abbt visited a secondary school in Ulm, then moved in 1756 to study theology, philosophy and mathematics at the [[University of Halle]], receiving a Magister degree in 1758. In 1760 he was appointed as an associate professor of philosophy at the [[University of Frankfurt (Oder)]], where he wrote his most well-known work ''[[Vom Tode für's Vaterland]]'' (1761).
This highly patriotic tract thematises [[Frederick II of Prussia|Frederick II]]'s defeat at [[Battle of Kunersdorf|Kunersdorf]]. It also drew the attention of the editors of the famous ''Literaturbriefe (Literary Letters)'', started by [[Gotthold Ephraim Lessing]]. He contributed a large number of historical, political, esthetical and philosophical essays. Abbt was a fervent admirer of Lessing and seconded his educational, prosaic style of writing.
In autumn 1761 he was appointed as the full professor of mathematics in [[Rinteln]]. In 1763, he entered a competition that was sponsored by the Berlin Academy for an essay on the application of mathematical proofs to metaphysics. Among the competitors were [[Moses Mendelssohn]], who won, and [[Immanuel Kant]]. While in Rinteln, Abbt wrote his other famous work, ''Vom Verdienste'' (1765).
He travelled for nine months to [[France]], where he was able to speak with [[Voltaire]] in [[Ferney]]. He also climbed in the Alps of [[Savoy]]. This travel and the disapproval of the life at the university raised his urge to ''trade the Theory for the Life''.
While dealing with the idea to become a historian, he was offered in 1765 at the same time a professorship at the [[University of Marburg]] and a post as Councillor of the Court at the court of [[Count Wilhelm von Schaumburg-Lippe]]. He decided for the latter.
The count was highly interested in the plans of Thomas Abbt, which included a history of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]] and a translation of [[Sallust]] among others.
However in 1766, the twenty-seven-year-old Abbt suddenly died of an intestinal illness in [[Bückeburg]]. Of him [[Johann Gottfried Herder|Herder]] wrote that he "died for Germany and for his language too early!"
==Sources==
*''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' - [[s:de:ADB:Abbt, Thomas|online version]] at [[Wikisource]]
{{GFDL}}
'''Thomas Abbt''' (25 November 1738 – 3 November 1766) was a [[Germany|German]] [[mathematician]] and writer.
Born in [[Ulm]], Abbt visited a secondary school in Ulm, then moved in 1756 to study theology, philosophy and mathematics at the [[University of Halle]], receiving a Magister degree in 1758. In 1760 he was appointed as an associate professor of philosophy at the [[University of Frankfurt (Oder)]], where he wrote his most well-known work ''[[Vom Tode für's Vaterland]]'' (1761).
This highly patriotic tract thematises [[Frederick II of Prussia|Frederick II]]'s defeat at [[Battle of Kunersdorf|Kunersdorf]]. It also drew the attention of the editors of the famous ''Literaturbriefe (Literary Letters)'', started by [[Gotthold Ephraim Lessing]]. He contributed a large number of historical, political, esthetical and philosophical essays. Abbt was a fervent admirer of Lessing and seconded his educational, prosaic style of writing.
In autumn 1761 he was appointed as the full professor of mathematics in [[Rinteln]]. In 1763, he entered a competition that was sponsored by the Berlin Academy for an essay on the application of mathematical proofs to metaphysics. Among the competitors were [[Moses Mendelssohn]], who won, and [[Immanuel Kant]]. While in Rinteln, Abbt wrote his other famous work, ''Vom Verdienste'' (1765).
He travelled for nine months to [[France]], where he was able to speak with [[Voltaire]] in [[Ferney]]. He also climbed in the Alps of [[Savoy]]. This travel and the disapproval of the life at the university raised his urge to ''trade the Theory for the Life''.
While dealing with the idea to become a historian, he was offered in 1765 at the same time a professorship at the [[University of Marburg]] and a post as Councillor of the Court at the court of [[Count Wilhelm von Schaumburg-Lippe]]. He decided for the latter.
The count was highly interested in the plans of Thomas Abbt, which included a history of [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]] and a translation of [[Sallust]] among others.
However in 1766, the twenty-seven-year-old Abbt suddenly died of an intestinal illness in [[Bückeburg]]. Of him [[Johann Gottfried Herder|Herder]] wrote that he "died for Germany and for his language too early!"
==Sources==
*''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' - [[s:de:ADB:Abbt, Thomas|online version]] at [[Wikisource]]
{{GFDL}}