The Conversations-Lexikon, a reference work originally launched in 1796, reached its definitive form under the editorial control of Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus. By transforming a stagnant publication into an influential model for encyclopedic knowledge, he established a publishing house in Germany that sustained his legacy long after his death in 1823.
Early Mercantile Career
Born in Dortmund in 1772, Brockhaus received his formal education at the local gymnasium. Between 1788 and 1793, he completed an apprenticeship at a mercantile firm in Düsseldorf. Following this training, he enrolled at Leipzig University for two years to concentrate on modern languages and literature. His initial business ventures involved trading English goods in Dortmund, before relocating these operations to Arnheim and later to Amsterdam.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Shift to Publishing
In 1805, Brockhaus abandoned his mercantile trade to pursue publishing. His early efforts to launch journals were hampered by government restrictions. Facing mounting complications in the Netherlands, he returned to Germany in 1810, settling in Altenburg the following year. During this transition, he acquired the copyright to a struggling encyclopedia, which he successfully completed as the first edition of the Conversations-Lexikon between 1810 and 1811.
Expansion and Legacy
The success of the encyclopedia prompted a second edition in 1812. In 1818, Brockhaus moved his operations to Leipzig, establishing a large printing facility. His catalog expanded to include critical periodicals such as Hermes, Zeitgenossen, and the Literarisches Konversationsblatt. He also published significant bibliographical works by Friedrich Adolf Ebert and historical volumes by Friedrich Ludwig Georg von Raumer. Following his death in 1823, his sons Friedrich and Heinrich Brockhaus managed the firm, ensuring the brand's continued prominence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1772, Dortmund
- Died: 1823, Leipzig
- Education: Leipzig University
- Primary Occupations: publisher, bookseller
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
- Burial Site: Neuer Johannisfriedhof, Leipzig
- Eponym: 27765 Brockhaus (asteroid)
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Conversations-Lexikon?
It became a celebrated model for encyclopedias that was widely imitated and continues to be published today as the Brockhaus Encyclopedia.
Who continued the business after Brockhaus died?
His sons, Friedrich Brockhaus and Heinrich Brockhaus, managed and extended the firm after his death in 1823.
