Francke, AUGUST HERMANN,

Francke, AUGUST HERMANN, founder of the orphan asylum and several educational institutions at Halle, was born at Lübeck, 22d March 1663. In 1692 he obtained the professorship of Oriental Languages at Halle, which in 1698 he exchanged for that of Theology. He died on 8th June 1727. A pupil of Spener and the teacher of Zinzendorf, Francke belonged to the ranks of those who carried forward the pietistic movement (see PIETISM); his activity, however, took the practical direction of founding, endowing, and organising various educational institutions at Halle. Amongst these were a school for the poor, a pædagogium, a burgher school, a Latin school, and a seminary for training teachers for these establishments, all founded in one year, 1695; and with them was associated an orphanage, which became in the course of time the most important of all Francke's institutions. At the time of his death his schools were frequented by more than 2300 pupils. Although Francke's principal aim was to impart religious instruction to poor and neglected children, he did not overlook the needs of their practical nature: he founded also a printing-office and an apothecary's shop, and had them instructed in natural science and their native tongue, as well as in physical exercises and manual trades. At the present time all Francke's foundations exist with but little alteration; in addition to those mentioned there are also a real-gymnasium, two schools for girls, and a free school. The number of pupils is more than 3000 annually. See Lives by Kramer (2d ed. 1885) and Stein (2d ed. 1886).