And this is what Koenig's invention did, as will be
observed from the following brief summary of his life and
labours.
Frederick Koenig was born on the 17th of April, 1774, at
Eisleben, in Saxony, the birthplace also of a still more famous
person, Martin Luther. His father was a respectable peasant
proprietor, described by Herr Goebel as Anspanner. But this word
has now gone out of use. In feudal times it described the farmer
who was obliged to keep draught cattle to perform service due to
the landlord. The boy received a solid education at the
Gymnasium, or public school of the town. At a proper age he was
bound apprentice for five years to Breitkopf and Hartel, of
Leipzig, as compositor and printer; but after serving for four
and a quarter years, he was released from his engagement because
of his exceptional skill, which was an unusual occurrence.
During the later years of his apprenticeship, Koenig was
permitted to attend the classes in the University, more
especially those of Ernst Platner, a physician, philosopher, and
anthropologist. After that he proceeded to the printing-office
of his uncle, Anton F. Rose, at Greifswald, an old seaport town
on the Baltic, where he remained a few years. He next went to
Halle as a journeyman printer,-- German workmen going about from
place to place, during their wanderschaft, for the purpose of
learning their business.
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