Education
At the University of Bonn, he studied law, languages, and history.
At the University of Bonn, he studied law, languages, and history.
Kaufmann came from a prominent local family, whose members had served in both the city government and service of the former Elector of Cologne. He was also related to the painters Andreas and Karl Müller. In 1844, Kaufmann was appointed to teach Prince Karl von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, who made him keeper of the Wertheim archives in 1850.
Kaufmann would retain this post until his death.