Campe, Joachim Heinrich

Campe, Joachim Heinrich, a German clergyman and author, was born in 1746 at Deensen, in Brunswick: became, in 1773, military chaplain at Potsdam; in 1776, director of an educational institution in Dessau. In 1777 he established his own educational school at Trittow, near Hamburg, which he sold in 1783. In 1787 he was appointed school-councillor in Brunswick, and in 1805, canon. He died at Brunswick in 1818. He is one of the most famous German authors of juvenile works, especially works of travel. His work Robinson der Jiungere (Robinson the Younger) has been translated into all European languages, and its immense popularity in Germany may be inferred from the fact that a 60th edition of it was published in 1861. His writings, prepared in a rationalistic spirit, contributed largely to lead away the youth of Germany from simple faith in Christianity. The complete edition of his juvenile works fills 37 volumes (Sdmmtliche KinderundJugendschriften, 4th ed. Brunswick, 1829-32). — Pierer, Universal-Lexikon, s.v.; Hurst, History of Rationalism, p. 188.