Family Name: Ebert
First Name: Johann
Birth Date: Sat, Feb 06, 1723
Birth Place: Hamburg
Death Date: Tue, Mar 17, 1795
Death Place: Brauschweig
Main places of activity:
Place From To
Leipzig 1742 1747
Place From To
Brauschweig 1747 1794
Personal info:
Education

Ebert was the son of a soldier in Hamburg, where he attended the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums first and the Akademisches Gymnasium later on. In his youth, it was the poet Friedrich von Hagedorn who supported him and encouraged his interest in English literature.

Ebert began his studies in theology at Leipzig University in 1743, but he switched to humanities and philology, apparently because the Hamburg clergy had taken offense at a serenade Ebert had written for a wedding, as a result of which the ministry asked for a preemptive revocation of his right to preach.
Career

In 1748, Ebert moved to Braunschweig to work as preceptor at the Collegium Carolinum. He taught English language and translation, listing among his pupils the crown prince Charles William Ferdinand. In 1753 he was promoted full professor and started lecturing on history until 1770, when he began teaching Greek language instead.

In 1780, Ebert was appointed councillor.
Translations Other Works

translations activities

Ebert translated English poetry into German, most famously Edward Young's works.

He had a crucial role in creating and shaping a taste for English literature in the German-speaking world as a prominent cultural agent and translator.

secondary bibliography references

W. Creizenach, 'Ebert, Johann Arnold', Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, Leipzig, vol. 5, 1877, pp. 586-587.

C. M. Schröder, 'Ebert, Arnold', in Neue Deutsche Biographie, Berlin, vol. 4, 1959, p. 253.

C.-F. Berghahn, G. Biegel and T. Kinzel, eds., Johann Arnold Ebert: Dichtung, Übersetzung und Kulturtransfer im Zeitalter der Aufklärung, Heidelberg, Universitätsverlag Winter, 2016.

Translations

  • Discourses concerning the truth of the Christian religion

  • Translation Title: Abhandlungen über die Wahrheit der Christlichen Religion. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt von Johann Arnold Ebert
  • Original Author: John Jortin
  • Original title: Discourses concerning the truth of the Christian religion
  • Publ. Year From: 1744 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Abhandlungen über die Wahrheit der Christlichen Religion. Aus dem Englischen übersetzt von Johann Arnold Ebert
  • Pub. Place: Hamburg
  • Pub. Date: 1768
  • Lang: German

  • Leonidas, a Poem

  • Translation Title: Leonidas. Ein Heldengedicht
  • Original Author: Richard Glover
  • Original title: Leonidas, a Poem
  • Publ. Year From: 1736 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Leonidas. Ein Heldengedicht
  • N° Editions: 4
  • Pub. Place: Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1747
  • Lang: German
  • Note:

    Another edition was published in Vienna in 1764, then in Zurich in 1766, and eventually in Hamburg in 1778.

  • The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality

  • Translation Title: Klagen, oder Nachtgedanken über Leben, Tod, und Unsterblichkeit
  • Original Author: Edward Young
  • Original title: The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality
  • Publ. Year From: 1741 to: 1744
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Klagen, oder Nachtgedanken über Leben, Tod, und Unsterblichkeit
  • N° Editions: 3
  • Pub. Place: Braunschweig
  • Pub. Date: 1750
  • Lang: German
  • Note:

    Ebert edition contained Young's blank verses with a parallel German translation in prose.

    This was Ebert's life project, which he began after studying the original texts for four years. He meticulously exchanged his views with Young on how to translate some parts, explaining his ideas. This translation thus constitutes one rare example of collaboration between the author and his translator, and is considered a milestone for the period.

    Ebert re-edited two successive versions, in 1760-1771 and 1790-1795.

calamaio

By:

  • Giovanni Lista