Otto, Friedrich Heinrich

Grammar school teacher, classical philologist, historian

Born: 02.03.1826 in Niedermeilingen

died: 27.12.1902 in Wiesbaden

The pastor's son studied philosophy, history and classical philology in Göttingen and Bonn. Otto passed his first state examination in Wiesbaden in 1849. After briefly working at the Gelehrten-Gymnasium, he became a teacher in Weilburg, where he passed his second state examination in 1854. From 1859 until his retirement in 1894, he taught at the Wiesbaden grammar school (later the Diltheyschule), from 1870 as senior teacher and in 1881 as professor.

Otto also dealt extensively with the history of his adopted city, as evidenced by numerous publications. These include his "Geschichte der Stadt Wiesbaden" in 1877, "Das Merkerbuch der Stadt Wiesbaden, ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Stadt im 14. und 15. Jahrhundert" in 1882 (a Merkerbuch contains, among other things, descriptions of court hearings, Weistümern and deeds of donation) and "Das älteste Gerichtsbuch der Stadt Wiesbaden" in 1900 (Quellenschriften zur Nassauischen Rechts- und Verfassungsgeschichte). In addition, there are numerous contributions to the Nassau Annals, the publications of the Historical Commission for Nassau and essays in many journals, which made him a "Nassau historiographer".

He was a member of the Verein für Nassauische Altertumskunde und Geschichtsforschung, of which he was chairman from 1878-87. After his retirement, he devoted himself intensively to his favorite writer Goethe. The grammar school teacher, who was extremely knowledgeable in the field of local research, gave academic lectures until 1901.

Friedrich-Otto-Straße between Kapellenstraße and Dambachtal commemorates the historian and educator.