Friedrich Robert Faehlmann

Who was Friedrich Robert Faehlmann?

Friedrich Robert Faehlmann was an Estonian philologist and an Estophile active in Livonia, Russian Empire. He was a co-founder of the Learned Estonian Society at the University of Dorpat and its chairman.

Faehlmann was born to the family of the manager of Ao Manor in Järva County. In 1825 he graduated from the medical department of the University of Dorpat. In 1827 he earned the M.D. degree and become a physician in Dorpat. In addition he gave lectures in Estonian language in the university during 1842–1850.

Since the 1820s he was interested in the Estonian culture and in 1838 he became a co-founder of the Learned Estonian Society.

Faehlmann brought attention to the Estonian folklore of Kalevipoeg, which after his death has become the Estonian national epic by the efforts of another Estophile, Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald. He also recorded a number of tales.

In 1840 a story "Koit ja Hämarik" was first published.

Fählmann died of tuberculosis in Dorpat.