Emilie Friderika Aemilia

November 26, 1755 (age 74)

Gotha, Germany

She is regarded as an early writer about women"s rights in Germany. She published some poetry and then a book of protest because Switzerland was invaded in 1798 by the French. The marriage ended in divorce in 1787. Her ex-husband married Anna Dorothea Helene Siever, who had been her maid, after the divorce. By this time Berlepsch"s writing was being regarded as more than amateur and aspiring to art She is said to have "set her cap", unsuccessfully, at Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. She left Switzerland in protest at the French invasion of the country and swore never to set foot in it again while it was occupied. She went to visit Scotland in 1799 and 1800. She had already met the polyglot Reverend James Macdonald in Germany who was acquainted with C. M. Wieland and J. G. Herder. Macdonald was an enthusiast for improving relations between Scotland and Germany. The vicar in Fife became Berlepsch"s chosen host. He looked after her and took her on tours of Scotland. Some of her time was spent in Edinburgh and some in the Highlands. Berlepsch wrote a four volume account titled Caledonia, in German, which discussed Scotland and female writers publishing in English. Macdonald"s affection for Berlepsch did not extend to marriage, and Berlepsch was disappointed. Her second marriage was to August Heinrich Harmes who was not of noble birth. They lived at Lake Zurich until 1817.

Emilie Friderika Aemilia

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Background

She was born in Gotha in 1755. When her father died, her mother remarried, and she was looked after by an uncle and given a good private education.

Career

She is regarded as an early writer about women"s rights in Germany. She published some poetry and then a book of protest because Switzerland was invaded in 1798 by the French. The marriage ended in divorce in 1787.

Her ex-husband married Anna Dorothea Helene Siever, who had been her maid, after the divorce.

By this time Berlepsch"s writing was being regarded as more than amateur and aspiring to art She is said to have "set her cap", unsuccessfully, at Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

She left Switzerland in protest at the French invasion of the country and swore never to set foot in it again while it was occupied. She went to visit Scotland in 1799 and 1800.

She had already met the polyglot Reverend James Macdonald in Germany who was acquainted with C. M. Wieland and J. G. Herder.

Macdonald was an enthusiast for improving relations between Scotland and Germany. The vicar in Fife became Berlepsch"s chosen host. He looked after her and took her on tours of Scotland.

Some of her time was spent in Edinburgh and some in the Highlands.

Berlepsch wrote a four volume account titled Caledonia, in German, which discussed Scotland and female writers publishing in English. Macdonald"s affection for Berlepsch did not extend to marriage, and Berlepsch was disappointed.

Her second marriage was to August Heinrich Harmes who was not of noble birth. They lived at Lake Zurich until 1817.

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