Albert Popper

Albert Popper or Vojtěch Popper in Czech, Hebrew name: Abraham, (1808 - 3 September, 1889) Mayor of Vimperk, Official Doctor of the Schwarzenberg Princes.

Albert Popper was born in 1808 in the village of Breznice (called Bresnitz or Breznitz in German), Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic) to a Jewish family. At the time of his birth the number of Jewish families in the Kingdom of Bohemia was strictly controlled by the Familianten quota system, which was not abolished until 1848.

In addition to the government control of Jewish procreation, during most of Albert Popper's life Jews were prohibited from owning property, choosing their place of domicile, attending public schools, or holding public office. This situation did not change until late in Albert Popper's life with the reforms of 1867 in the Austrian portion of the dual monarchy.

Albert Popper, nevertheless, was able to gain permission to attend the University of Vienna, where he earned his doctorate in Pharmacology in 1835. He went on to earn his medical degree and settled in Vimperk where he established a pharmacy and served as the official doctor to the Schwarzenberg Princes.

By the time of the Vimperk fire of 1857, Albert Popper was the Mayor of Vimperk. After the fire, he implored the monarchy for assistance. Emperor Franz Joseph himself came to Vimperk and was the guest of Albert Popper. The Emperor agreed to provide imperial funds for repair and reconstruction.