Meta Wellmer | |
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| Born | Margarethe Wirth 18 December 1826/1832 |
| Died | 1 August 1889 |
| Pen name | M. Wirth |
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| Relatives | Michael Ludwig Wellmer [de] (father) |
Meta Wellmer (bornMargarethe Wirth; 18 December 1826/1832 – 1 August 1889), who also wrote under the pseudonymM. Wirth, was a German writer, teacher, and activist whose work addressedwomen's rights,vegetarianism, andanimal welfare. She taught in several European cities and wrote poetry, fiction, and essays on education and nutrition; she contributed to the periodicalVereinsblatt der Freunde der natürlichen Lebensweise ("Association Journal for Friends of the Natural Way of Life") and publishedDie vegetarische Lebensweise und die Vegetarier ("The Vegetarian Way of Life and the Vegetarians"; 1877). She corresponded withThomas Carlyle and his family, wrote toFriedrich Nietzsche in 1875, and spent much of her life inEbersdorf,Reuss, where she died in 1889.
Margarethe Wirth was born inLeonrod,Kingdom of Bavaria, either on 18 December 1826 or in 1832.[1][2] Her mother was Eva Margaretha Wirth, an unmarried weaver and the daughter of the mayor of Leonrod, who married Johann Geck in Deberndorf in 1830. Meta Wellmer later identifiedMichael Ludwig Wellmer [de] the Royal Bavarian District Judge and City Commissioner who died in Munich in 1859, as her father; however, it is uncertain whether he was her biological father, as he was not listed on her baptismal certificate.[3] Through him, she received a thorough education in the sciences, modern languages, and music.[4]
Wellmer became a teacher at the age of 17.[4] She taught in Germany, Switzerland, Paris, London, Madrid, and Rome. During her career, she gained prominence as a writer, publishing multiple collections of poetry and short stories, along with numerous articles on topics such as education, nutrition, andwomen's rights in both domestic and international journals.[5]
Wellmer became avegetarian in 1869 and was extremely active in the vegetarianism andanimal welfare movements.[4] She was one of the early female contributors to theVereinsblatt der Freunde der natürlichen Lebensweise ("Association Journal for Friends of the Natural Way of Life"). Her contributions included a poem in 1872 and a piece titled "Two Days of Travel" in Switzerland from a vegetarian perspective in 1874. She was one of the few women who regularly wrote for the journal during the late 19th century.[6]
Wellmer also published independent works focused on animal welfare. Additionally, she authored the bookDie vegetarische Lebensweise und die Vegetarier ("The Vegetarian Way of Life and the Vegetarians"; 1877).[6]
Wellmer was a correspondent of Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopherThomas Carlyle, and his family.[7]
Wellmer wrote toFriedrich Nietzsche in 1875, enclosing a copy of her bookGeistergeschichten aus neuerer Zeit ("Ghost Stories from Modern Times"). In the letter, she discusses her admiration forSchopenhauer's philosophy, particularly the moral and ethical implications it has on daily life. In the letter, she expresses admiration for Schopenhauer's philosophy and discusses its moral implications for daily life. She writes that she adopted vegetarianism, which she regarded as the only moral and humane way of living, and proposes establishing a society of Schopenhauer’s followers to promote his teachings on equality, kinship, and mutual support.[8]
Wellmer was afeminist andspiritualist.[9]
Wellmer spent most of her life inEbersdorf,Reuss.[5] She died there on 1 August 1889, at the reported age of 62.[10]
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