Karl August Varnhagen von Ense

Karl August Varnhagen von Ense (21 February 1785 in Düsseldorf – 10 October 1858 in Berlin) was a German biographer, diplomat and soldier.

He was born in Düsseldorf, the younger brother of Rosa Maria Varnhagen, a noted poet, writer, and educator.

[1] In 1809, he joined the main Austrian army under Archduke Charles, serving in IR47 Vogelsang at the Battle of Wagram, where he was wounded on the first day, 5 July.

This allowed him to learn from an early age young characters in his time, some already famous, such as: Adelbert von Chamisso, Justinus Kerner, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, Ludwig Uhland and many other poets of romanticism.

[3][4] [check quotation syntax] On 10 October 1858, while playing chess with his niece, Karl August Varnhagen von Ense died of unknown causes.