Heinrich Otto Jacobi was born to a Jewish family in Tütz, West Prussia.
He studied at University of Berlin, where, under the influence of Bellermann, Droysen and Pape, he devoted himself to philosogy.
He also attended lectures in philosophy, history, German studies, mathematics, and natural sciences.
[1] He received a doctorate honoris causa from the University of Königsberg in March 1854 for his profound knowledge of the Greek language.
[2] Jacobi was the compiler of the Index Græcitatis to Meineke's edition of Græcorum Comicorum Fragmenta [de] (Berlin, 1847).