Gotthard Friedrich Stender
Gotthard Friedrich Stender (Latvian: Gothards Frīdrihs Stenders; 1714–1796) was a Baltic German Lutheran pastor who played an outstanding role in Latvia's history of culture. He was the first Latvian grammarian and lexicographer, founder of the Latvian secular literature in the 18th century. In the spirit of Enlightenment, he wrote the first Latvian-German and German-Latvian dictionaries, wrote the first encyclopedia “The book of high wisdom of the world and nature” (1774), and wrote the first illustrated Latvian alphabet book (1787).
Gotthard Friedrich Stender | |
|---|---|
Gothards Frīdrihs Stenders | |
 Gotthard Friedrich Stender, 1753 | |
| Born | 27 August 1714 Lassen pastorat, Oberhauptmannschaft Selburg, Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (Now Eglaine, Eglaine parish, Ilūkste Municipality,  Latvia) |
| Died | 17 May 1796 (aged 81) Sunaxt pastorat, Courland Governorate, Russian Empire (Sunākste parish, Jaunjelgava Municipality, Latvia |
| Nationality | Baltic German |
| Education | University of Jena University of Halle |
| Known for | Latvian grammarian |
| Children | Alexander Johann Stender |
Biography
Gotthard Friedrich Stender's father was a Lutheran pastor in Laši parish, Hermann Konrad Stender. His grandfather was also a pastor in the Selonia region of Duchy of Courland. He got his first education from his father, but later studied in SubateGerman school where one of his main interests was Latin. From 1736 until 1739, Stender studied theology and ancient languages in universities of Jena and Halle. Afterwards, he returned to Courland and worked as a private teacher in Lielbērstele. In 1742, he became deputy director of Jelgava City School.
From 1744 until 1752, he was a Lutheran pastor in the parish of Linde-Birzgale. During this period, he started to study Latvian. From 1753 until 1759, he was a Lutheran pastor in Žeimelis (modern Lithuania) where he lived with a notable Latvian community. Here, his health worsened and Stender decided to leave his pastors duties in 1759. Together with his family, he traveled to Germany, and in 1761, he published a volume of Latvian grammar (Neue vollständigere lettische Grammatik) in Braunschweig. It was later studied by Herder during his stay in Riga. Until 1763, Stender worked as a teacher in Helmstedt and also was a rector of Realschule in Konigslutter. After a conflict with school administration, he left Germany and became professor of geography in Copenhagen, Denmark. There, he made a globe for King of Denmark Frederik V. Stender also became interested in ideas of Freemasonry and became a member of a lodge.
In 1765, Stender returned to Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. For the rest of his life, he was a pastor of Sēlpils and Sunākste parishes. All his most famous works are published during this period. He never lost interest about science and had active correspondence with St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences about scientific issues.
Gotthard Friedrich Stender died in his home in Sunākste, 17 May 1796. His son and grandson were also Lutheran pastors.
Works
Stender produced didactic tales and idyllic poems meant to educate and uplift the Latvian peasants who were oppressed by serfdom. He wrote secular poetry ranging from philosophical odes to the grandeur of nature to unpretentious, folksy songs, which widely influenced the literary taste of the nation, and won extreme popularity. His works, although written in a simple language and style, meant for the barely educated 18th century Latvians, promoted the education in Latvian schools throughout the whole 19th century. His Latvian grammar book and a dictionary was used not only by Latvians and Baltic Germans, but also by foreign linguists from all over the Europe. Stender, along with Johann Gottfried Herder, was the first author who analysed dainas, riddles, proverbs and sayings.
References
Sources
- Zigrīda Frīde. Latvis. Gothards Frīdrihs Stenders. Rīga, 2003.
- Jānis Stradiņš. Stenders un viņa "Augstas gudrības grāmata". Rīga, 1975.
- Kārlis Kundziņš. Vecais Stenders savā dzīvē un darbā. Jelgava, 1897.
