Archive of the Jung-Stilling-Gesellschaft e.V.

About Jung-Stilling

Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling (1740-1817), doctor of philosophy and medicine, came from a family of craftsmen with a small farm in the northern ‘Siegerland’ region. He first worked as a charcoal burner's assistant, tailor, button maker, farm labourer, village schoolmaster, private teacher and surveyor's assistant in his home region. After completing school, Jung-Stilling was the right-hand man of an entrepreneur and long-distance trader in the region ‘Bergisches Land’ for seven years. After completing his medical studies at the University of Strasbourg, he worked as a doctor in Wuppertal-Elberfeld for another seven years.

For a quarter of a century Jung-Stilling then taught economic sciences (including veterinary medicine, agronomy and forestry) in Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg and Marburg. He is the author of eleven related textbooks and numerous academic papers. Jung-Stilling spent the last part of his life as personal advisor to Prince Karl Friedrich of Baden, with whom he was on friendly terms. Jung-Stilling died in Karlsruhe, the capital of Baden, where he is buried to this day.

Jung-Stilling also made a name for himself as a popular writer and lay theologian. His "Lebensgeschichte" was translated into many foreign languages and his "Szenen aus dem Geisterreich" was reprinted several times. Jung-Stilling also loved music; he played the flute, piano and organ and composed several songs.

In the course of his life, Jung-Stilling freed around 3,000 people from blindness through surgery; he is considered one of the most important German eye surgeons. At the University of Marburg, he also introduced medical students to surgical ophthalmology. He wrote his own textbook on the subject. In an estimated 25,000 letters (letter sample), Jung-Stilling offered his knowledge and experience to people seeking advice from all over the world and from all walks of life. After his death in 1817, he is commemorated by a monument in front of the Protestant church in Hilchenbach and numerous streets and squares named after him in many German towns.

To top

History of the Jung-Stilling-Gesellschaft e.V.

At the University of Siegen, a Jung-Stilling research project was established in 1986 in the then Department of Economics. Its director, Professor Dr. Gerhard Merk, reprinted several of Jung-Stilling's economic writings. The unexpectedly strong response with letters from all over the world gave rise to the idea of assembling the personalities individually active in Jung-Stilling research in a separate scientific body.

For this purpose, the Jung-Stilling Society was founded at the beginning of 1989 as a registered association at the Siegen District Court. The society is officially recognised as a non-profit organisation. The aim of the society – research about the person and work of Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling – is to be achieved in detail through the promotion of related research work, the support of relevant publications, the organisation of scientific conferences and the collection of archive material.

Since 2013, Prof. Dr. Eckehard Krah is the president of the Jung-Stilling-Gesellschaft. He succeeded Ortwin Brückel, who had been in office since 2008 and who in turn succeeded the founding president, Professor Dr. Gerhard Merk. The Executive Director, since 2022 Prof. Dr. Hanns-Christian Salger, LL.M. Attorney at Law (New York) Arbitrator (FCIArb) Mediator (certified), is responsible for the economic and legal affairs of the association.

Since its foundation, the Jung-Stilling Society has launched two series of publications in its own associated publishing house: "Jung-Stilling-Studien" and "Jung-Stilling-Schriften".

The Jung-Stilling archive is is open to the public by appointment at the Siegen University Library and under supervision. No documents may be borrowed. Copies may be made by prior consultation with the University Library and the Jung-Stilling Society.

To top

Further information

Forschungsvorhaben Jung-Stilling

Jung-Stilling Gesellschaft e.V., Siegen

Universitätsprofessor Dr. Gerhard Merk †

To top