Heinrich Graetz, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Heinrich Graetz

Jewish historian

Date of Birth: 31-Oct-1817

Place of Birth: Gmina Książ Wielkopolski, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland

Date of Death: 07-Sep-1891

Profession: rabbi, historian, theologian, university teacher

Nationality: German Empire

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Heinrich Graetz (German: [g??ts]; 31 October 1817 – 7 September 1891) was amongst the first historians to write a comprehensive history of the Jewish people from a Jewish perspective. Born Tzvi Hirsh Graetz to a butcher family in Xions (now Ksiaz Wielkopolski), Grand Duchy of Posen, in Prussia (now in Poland), he attended Breslau University, but since Jews at that time were barred from receiving Ph.D.s there, he obtained his doctorate from the University of Jena.
After 1845 he was principal of the Jewish Orthodox school of the Breslau community, and later taught history at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland).
His magnum opus History of the Jews was quickly translated into other languages and ignited worldwide interest in Jewish history.
In 1869 the University of Breslau (Wroclaw) granted him the title of Honorary Professor.
In 1888 he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences.