Background
Gottfried Achenwall was born at Elbing, in East Prussia, in October 1719. He was born in the family of a businessman.
economist historian jurist mathematician statistician university professor
Gottfried Achenwall was born at Elbing, in East Prussia, in October 1719. He was born in the family of a businessman.
Beginning in 1738 Gottfried Achenwall studied in the Jena, Halle, again Jena and Leipzig. He was awarded his master's degree in 1746 by the philosophical faculty of Leipzig and went in the following to Marburg to work as assistant professor lecturing history, statistics, natural and international law.
In the years 1743 to 1746, Gottfried Achenwall worked as controller in Dresden.
In 1748 he was called to the University of Göttingen to become extraordinary professor of philosophy, and in 1753 Gottfried Achenwall became an extraordinary professor of law and regular professor of philosophy. In 1761 he again shifted fields, becoming a professor of natural law and politics, and in 1762 he became a doctor of both laws. In 1765, Achenwall became court counsellor of the Royal British and the Electoral court of Hanover.
With financial support from King George III he travelled to Switzerland and France in 1751 and to Holland and England in 1759.
In 1761 Gottfried Achenwall again shifted fields, becoming a professor of natural law and politics, and in 1762 he became a doctor of both laws. In this work, he gave a comprehensive view of the constitutions of the various countries, described the condition of their agriculture, manufactures and commerce, and frequently supplied statistics in relation to these subjects.
Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Gottfried Achenwall had five children from three marriages.