Leopold von Goeckingk | |
|---|---|
 Self portrait | |
| Born | Leopold Friedrich Günther von Goeckingk (1748-07-13)July 13, 1748 |
| Died | February 18, 1828(1828-02-18) (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Lyric poet, journalist, book-keeper, jurisprudent and royal official |
| Notable works | Lieder zweier Liebenden ("Songs of Two Lovers") |
| Spouse | Ferdinande Vogel |
| Children | 1 daughter |
Leopold Friedrich Günther von Goeckingk, alsoGöckingk (13 July 1748 – 18 February 1828) was aSaxon-Prussianlyric poet,journalist, androyal Prussian official.
Goeckingk was born inGröningen (Landkreis Börde) and went to school inHalberstadt, where he became friends withJohann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim. He continued his schooling atHalle, where he was a fellow pupil of another noted poet,Gottfried August Bürger. He went to the university of that city and studiedbook-keeping andjurisprudence. After finishing his studies in 1768 he becameReferendar in the War and Territorial Chamber in Halberstadt. From 1770 he was chancellery director in the Prussian settlement ofEllrich, found the time to begin a career as a writer withLieder zweier Liebenden ("Songs of Two Lovers"), and met his future wife Ferdinande Vogel (d. 1781). Between 1776 and 1779 he helped edit theGöttinger Musenalmanach, and in 1783 he founded theJournals von und für Deutschland. In 1786 he became a councillor in the War and Territorial Chamber inMagdeburg, in 1788 an agricultural tax commissioner inWernigerode and Prussian commissar, and in 1793 upper privy councillor of finance inBerlin.
Goeckingk was ennobled in 1789 as a reward for successfully putting the affairs of the Royal Abbey ofQuedlinburg in order. From this point on he styled himselfGoeckingk auf Daldorf und Günthersdorf. After the General Directory in Berlin was dissolved following theTreaty of Tilsit (1807), he made his resignation in 1808 and turned back to poetry. He lived for several years in Wernigerode.
In 1814 he withdrew from his remaining official responsibilities and went into retirement. He lived at first in Berlin, then moved in with his daughter atGroß Wartenberg, now Syców, where he died on 18 February 1828.
Goeckingk belonged to theHalberstädter Dichterkreis ("Halberstadt Poets' Circle") and was one of its most outstanding representatives. He was also a member of theBerliner Mittwochsgesellschaft ("Berlin Wednesdays Society"), and theIlluminati in Göttingen. He was the brother-in-law of thejurist and poetJohann Gottlob Benjamin Pfeil (1732–1800).[citation needed]
