Theodor Mommsen

German classical scholar and historian

Born: November 30, 1817 · Died: November 1, 1903

Famous Persons

Who was Theodor Mommsen?

Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen (; German: [ˈteːodoːɐ̯ ˈmɔmzn̩] ; 30 November 1817 – 1 November 1903) was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician and archaeologist. Mommsen was born to German parents in Garding in the Duchy of Schleswig in 1817, then part of Denmark, and grew up in Bad Oldesloe in Holstein, where his father was a Lutheran minister. As he could not afford to study at Göttingen, he enrolled at the University of Kiel. He was also a prominent German politician, as a member of the Prussian and German parliaments. His parents were originally from Friesland. He studied mostly at home, though he attended the Gymnasium Christianeum in Altona for four years. He studied Greek and Latin and received his diploma in 1837.

Historical significance

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest classicists of the 19th century. He received the 1902 Nobel Prize in Literature for his historical writings, including The History of Rome, after having been nominated by 18 members of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. His works on Roman law and on the law of obligations had a significant impact on the German civil code.

Sources and further reading

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