Richard Laqueur

Who was Richard Laqueur?

Richard Laqueur was a German historian and philologist born in Strassburg.

He studied classical literature and history at the Universities of Bonn and Strassburg, and in 1904 received his doctorate of philosophy. In 1912 he became a full professor at Strassburg, and during the same year was appointed professor at the University of Giessen. From 1914 to 1918 he performed military duties during World War I, and in 1919 returned to Giessen, where he remained until 1930. Laqueur was rector at the university in 1922-23.

In 1930 he became a professor at the University of Tübingen, and two years later a professor at the University of Halle. Because of his Jewish beliefs, Laqueur was removed from his position at Halle in 1936, and in 1939 emigrated to the United States. After World War II he returned to Germany, but was denied his former status at Halle due to bureaucratic obstacles. In 1952 he moved to Hamburg, where he was later granted an honorary professorship.

Laqueur was a specialist of ancient Greek and Roman history, and was particularly interested in the economic history of their civilizations.