Franz Alexander was a member of the noble Pomeranianvon Kleist family. He was born in Potsdam, son of General Franz Kasimir von Kleist (1736–1808) and his wife Caroline Luise Eleonore Johanne (also née von Kleist, but of the Zützen branch of the family; 1747–1780). General Friedrich Ludwig Heinrich von Kleist was his younger brother.
In 1784 Franz Alexander entered the Prussian Infantry Regiment of the Duke of Brunswick ("Herzog von Braunschweig"). His regiment was stationed in Halberstadt, where he came into close contact with Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim, who because of his earlier friendship with Ewald Christian von Kleist, who fell in battle in 1759, had a particular inclination towards him. Franz Alexander is reckoned as a member of the Halberstadt Poetry Circle ("Halberstädter Dichterkreis"). He wrote several texts while he was in Halberstadt. After he left the town until his early death he kept up a correspondence with Gleim.
He took part in the campaign of 1789, then left the army and went to Berlin. Under Minister Ewald Friedrich von Hertzberg he became an attaché in 1791. In January 1792 he married Albertine von Jungk (1774-1855) and left government service in the following year.
He bought the estate of his deceased father-in-law, Falkenhagen near Frankfurt (Oder), sold it again and settled at Ringenwalde near Neudamm in the Neumark, where he died before he was 28. His widow married in 1800 Captain Ferdinand von Waldow of Dannenwalde in Gransee.
Worksedit
During his short life Franz Alexander published a great deal. He was much read in his lifetime and immediately after his death, and then almost entirely forgotten. His literary legacy is preserved in the Kleist Museum in Frankfurt (Oder).
Childrenedit
By his wife Albertine he had the following children:
Ferdinand (died young)
Karl (died young)
Adelaide (21 October 1794 – 16 August 1854); married Major General Ludwig Georg Adam von Wurmb (2 May 1788 – 28 February 1855).
Sourcesedit
Anke Tanzer: "Mein theurer zweiter Kleist": Franz Alexander von Kleist (1769-1797) - Leben und Werk; mit einer umfassenden Bibliographie der Primär- und Sekundärliteratur und einer kritischen Beschreibung der Autographen. Igel-Verlag, Oldenburg 1998; ISBN3896210874
Karl Heinrich Jördens, Lexikon deutscher Dichter und Prosaisten, vol. 6, p. 393, online at Google books
External linksedit
F. B. (1882), "Kleist, Franz Alexander von", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 16, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 121–122
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
franz, alexander, kleist, december, 1769, august, 1797, german, poet, late, 18th, century, contents, life, works, children, sources, external, linkslife, editfranz, alexander, member, noble, pomeranian, kleist, family, born, potsdam, general, franz, kasimir, k. Franz Alexander von Kleist 24 December 1769 8 August 1797 was a German poet of the late 18th century Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Children 4 Sources 5 External linksLife editFranz Alexander was a member of the noble Pomeranian von Kleist family He was born in Potsdam son of General Franz Kasimir von Kleist 1736 1808 and his wife Caroline Luise Eleonore Johanne also nee von Kleist but of the Zutzen branch of the family 1747 1780 General Friedrich Ludwig Heinrich von Kleist was his younger brother In 1784 Franz Alexander entered the Prussian Infantry Regiment of the Duke of Brunswick Herzog von Braunschweig His regiment was stationed in Halberstadt where he came into close contact with Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim who because of his earlier friendship with Ewald Christian von Kleist who fell in battle in 1759 had a particular inclination towards him Franz Alexander is reckoned as a member of the Halberstadt Poetry Circle Halberstadter Dichterkreis He wrote several texts while he was in Halberstadt After he left the town until his early death he kept up a correspondence with Gleim He took part in the campaign of 1789 then left the army and went to Berlin Under Minister Ewald Friedrich von Hertzberg he became an attache in 1791 In January 1792 he married Albertine von Jungk 1774 1855 and left government service in the following year He bought the estate of his deceased father in law Falkenhagen near Frankfurt Oder sold it again and settled at Ringenwalde near Neudamm in the Neumark where he died before he was 28 His widow married in 1800 Captain Ferdinand von Waldow of Dannenwalde in Gransee Works editDuring his short life Franz Alexander published a great deal He was much read in his lifetime and immediately after his death and then almost entirely forgotten His literary legacy is preserved in the Kleist Museum in Frankfurt Oder Children editBy his wife Albertine he had the following children Ferdinand died young Karl died young Adelaide 21 October 1794 16 August 1854 married Major General Ludwig Georg Adam von Wurmb 2 May 1788 28 February 1855 Sources editAnke Tanzer Mein theurer zweiter Kleist Franz Alexander von Kleist 1769 1797 Leben und Werk mit einer umfassenden Bibliographie der Primar und Sekundarliteratur und einer kritischen Beschreibung der Autographen Igel Verlag Oldenburg 1998 ISBN 3896210874 Karl Heinrich Jordens Lexikon deutscher Dichter und Prosaisten vol 6 p 393 online at Google booksExternal links editF B 1882 Kleist Franz Alexander von Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie in German vol 16 Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot pp 121 122 nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Franz Alexander von Kleist Literature by and about Franz Alexander von Kleist in the German National Library catalogue Biography in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franz Alexander von Kleist amp oldid 1170463750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
