Anna Sethe

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anna Sethe (born September 14, 1835 in Potsdam , † February 16, 1864 in Jena ) was the cousin and first wife of the zoologist Prof. Ernst Haeckel . She became known through the publication of her correspondence with Haeckel.

"Desmonema annasethe". The tentacles had reminded Haeckel of his wife's hair.

Life

Anna Sethe was the daughter of Heinrich Heine's childhood friend and the Provincial Tax Council in Stettin Christian Sethe (1798–1857) and Wilhelmine Bölling. On September 14, 1858, she got engaged to Ernst Haeckel in Heringsdorf. Haeckel was still dependent on the financial support from his father, because he had just finished his medical studies, but was very dissatisfied with his work as a doctor. His letters to Anna Sethe show what a great part she played in the search for a scientific purpose in life. It was only when Haeckel was appointed associate professor at the University of Jena in June 1862 that the couple were able to get married. The wedding took place in Berlin.

On his 30th birthday, Haeckel was honored for his radiolarian works . On this day Anna Sethe died after a short illness. Haeckel was so depressed that he could not attend the funeral. Haeckel now looked for a way out and support in scientific work. In 1867 Haeckel married a second time.

Desmonema Annasethe

The flag jellyfish from the Cyaneidae family Desmonema Annasethe named Ernst Haeckel after his wife Anna Sethe.

dedication

When I dedicate this first issue of my collected popular lectures to the memory of my dear first wife, who after a short, happiest marriage was suddenly snatched from me by an abrupt death, I mean, out of loyal gratitude, to denote the outstanding part that this rarely gifted woman as to my work in general, especially in the creation of these lectures. (...) If I should have succeeded (...) in adding lasting gain to the knowledge of humanity, I owe this essentially to the influence of the unforgettable woman, to whose memory these sheets are dedicated.
Jena, October 10, 1878. Ernst Haeckel.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Friedrich Schiller University Jena - Ernst Haeckel House Institute for the History of Medicine, Natural Science and Technology: "The curriculum vitae of Ernst Haeckel", 2002
  2. ^ Ernst Haeckel: Art forms of nature , Leipzig and Vienna 1904, plate 8: Discomedusae - Scheibenquallen (umbrella jellyfish)
  3. ↑ From the foreword: Popular lectures from the entire field of development theory 1878. Dedication. Ernst Haeckel dedicates these pages to the memory of his faithful wife Anna Sethe in loyal gratitude, Jena, October 10, 1878.

literature

  • Heinrich Schmidt (ed.): "The first love of a famous man in letters." Letters to Anna Sethe (1858–1865). Dresden 1930.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Sethe, Anna
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Haeckel, Anna
BRIEF DESCRIPTION first wife of Ernst Haeckel
DATE OF BIRTH September 14, 1835
PLACE OF BIRTH Potsdam
DATE OF DEATH February 16, 1864
Place of death Jena