Moses Mendelssohn: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Moses Mendelssohn? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Moses Mendelssohn (6 September 1729 – 4 January 1786) was a German-Jewish philosopher and theologian. His writings and ideas on Jews and the Jewish religion and identity were a central element in the development of the Haskalah, or 'Jewish Enlightenment' of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Born to a poor Jewish family in Dessau, Principality of Anhalt, and originally destined for a rabbinical career, Mendelssohn educated himself in German thought and literature. Through his writings on philosophy and religion he came to be regarded as a leading cultural figure of his time by both Christian and Jewish inhabitants of German-speaking Europe and beyond. His involvement in the Berlin textile industry formed the foundation of his family's wealth. His descendants include the composers Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn; Felix's son, chemist Paul Mendelssohn Bartholdy; Fanny's grandsons, Paul and Kurt Hensel; and the founders of the Mendelssohn & Co. banking house.
Quick facts about Moses Mendelssohn
- Full name: Moses Mendelssohn
- Born: 1729-09-06
- Nationality: Germany
- Known as: Author
- Wikidata ID: Q76997
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Moses Mendelssohn?
Moses Mendelssohn (6 September 1729 – 4 January 1786) was a German-Jewish philosopher and theologian.
What nationality is Moses Mendelssohn?
Moses Mendelssohn is Germany.
When was Moses Mendelssohn born?
Moses Mendelssohn was born on 1729-09-06.
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