Andreas Joseph Hofmann

Andreas Joseph Hofmann (14 July 1752 – 6 September 1849 ) was a German philosopher and revolutionary active in the Republic of Mainz. As Chairman of the Rhenish-German National Convention, the earliest parliament in Germany based on the principle of popular sovereignty, he proclaimed the first republican state in Germany, the Rhenish-German Free State, on 18 March 1793. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle Fahrmann, but the only person matching either of the descriptions as professor of moral theology or of auxiliary bishop in Würzburg during the time in question is Andreas Joseph Fahrmann (1742–1802), see also the . Otto's reference for Fahrmann is Franz Xaver von Wegele's history of the University of Würzburg, which does not give Fahrmann's first name. In Hofmanns CV for his application for the position in Mainz, he mentions an uncle Professor Fahrmann without first name. The Mainz University historian presents the uncle's name as Franz Xaver Fahrmann, but cites the Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie article about Andreas Joseph Fahrmann for details about Fahrmann's life. Hofmann studied law at the University of Mainz and at the University of Würzburg. In 1777 he moved to Vienna to gain experience at the or Aulic Council, one of the supreme courts of the Holy Roman Empire and became a in 1778. In Vienna, Hofmann was influenced by the enlightened principles of Josephinism. he started writing articles for various journals and founded a theatre journal in 1781. He returned to Würzburg in 1783, Like many other future members of the , he was a member of the secret society of the Illuminati (under the name Aulus Persius ) but the Illuminati were outlawed in 1785 and the lodge dissolved soon after. Hofmann first taught History of Philosophy until 1791, when he also became chair of natural law. Besides philosophy and law, Hofmann also was talented in languages. He was proficient in Latin, Ancient Greek, French, Italian, and English, and offered classes in English on Alexander Pope over many years. As a liberal and progressive thinker, Hofmann supported the use of German instead of Latin in University lectures Eventually he became disillusioned with the pace of the reforms in Mainz who had outlawed all criticism of state and religion on 10 September 1792. However, before the investigation of his activities had progressed beyond the questioning of his students, the archbishop and his court fled from the advancing French troops under General Custine, who arrived in Mainz on 21 October 1792.

Two days later, Hofmann helped found the Mainz Jacobin club and became one of its most active members. A popular and powerful orator, he criticised both the old regime of the Elector and the French military government in his speeches, which were especially supported by the more radical students who idolised the incorruptible Hofmann. In late 1792, he published the , a revolutionary pamphlet criticising the old regime and its instrumentalisation of religion to protect the absolutist order. Hofmann and his supporters called for official posts to be reserved for native born citizens. Hofmann lectured in the rural areas of the French occupied territory, calling for support of the general elections in February and March 1793 which he helped organize. He was elected into the Rhenish-German National Convention as a representative of Mainz On 18 March 1793 Hofmann declared the Rhenish-German Free State from the balcony of the Deutschhaus.

French government official and later life

When the republic ended after the siege of Mainz, Hofmann was able to leave the city with the retreating French troops and went into exile in Paris, where he headed a society of exiled Mainz republicans, the and was working towards an exchange of prisoners to free the German revolutionaries captured by the authorities. After a short service in the military, where he commanded an equestrian regiment that fought against insurgent royalists in the Vendée and was wounded several times, he was sent to England on espionage missions. However, at a Joseph Haydn concert in London on 2 June 1794, he was recognized and reported to the authorities by his former student Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. the only non-native French holding this office. In 1801, he was elected as a member of the Mainz city council but became a somewhat famous figure among Vormärz liberals and was visited by intellectuals such as Hoffmann von Fallersleben and . He died on 6 September 1849, having witnessed the failure of the 1848 revolution, and was buried without a Catholic funeral. the daughter of Peter Maria Rivora and Christina Schumann. They had three daughters, of which two died early. None of Hofmann's personal papers and correspondence have been preserved, Overall, there is far less known about Hofmann's life than about most of the other leading members of the Mainz Jacobin club.

Selected works

Notable students (1775–1855) (1771–1836) Klemens von Metternich (1773–1859) (1771–1837)