Ranke, Leopold Von, Dd

Ranke, Leopold Von, D.D.

a German historian, was born at Wiehe, Thuringia, December 21, 1795. He embraced the profession of teacher, and in 1818 became head master of the Gymnasium at Frankfort-on-the-Oder. In 1825 he was invited to Berlin as professor extraordinary of history in the university, and was sent in 1827 by the Prussian government to Vienna, Rome, and Venice, to examine the historical materials there. In 1841 he was appointed historiographer of Prussia, and in 1848 he was elected a member of the National Assembly at Frankfort. He was ennobled in 1866. He collected a large and valuable library pertaining to historical matters, which. after his death, May 23, 1886, was purchased and presented to Syracuse University, N.Y. He was the author of many volumes, chief of which are his History of the Popes, and German History in the Time of the Reformation.