Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling

[k_a_nitz]

Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling [German Wikipedia] (1740-1817) was an interesting fellow. Started off as a schoolmaster and tailor. Became a physician and oculist renowned for doing cataract operations, took up an appointment as lecturer on agriculture, technology, commerce and veterinary medicine, then became a professor of economic, financial and statistical studies at another university. In addition to publishing books on all those subjects, and writing novels, he also wrote on Christian mysticism and spiritualism. And three of the tales from one of his books ended up in the collection published by the Brothers Grimm. And he was a freemason in the Kaiserlautern lodge Karl August zu den drei flammenden Herzen [Karl August with the three blazing hearts - the German's have the best lodge names]. Topping it all off he married three times (the first two wives died aged only 30 and he remarried quickly after each) and fathered 13 children. Now that's a life.