FALKE

falke, johann friedrich gottlieb (1823-1876), german historian, was born at ratzeburg on the 20th of april 1823. entering the university of erlangen in 1843, he soon began to devote his attention to the history of the german language and literature, and in 1848 went to munich, where he remained five years, and diligently availed himself of the use of the government library for the purpose of prosecuting his historical studies. in 1856 he was appointed secretary of the german museum at nuremberg, and in 1859 keeper of the manuscripts. with the aid of the manuscript collections in the museum he now turned his attention chiefly to political history, and, with johann h. muller, established an historical journal under the name of _zeitschrift fur deutsche kulturgeschichte_ (4 vols., nuremberg, 1856-1859). to this journal he contributed a history of german taxation and commerce. on the latter subject he published separately _geschichte des deutschen handels_ (2 vols., leipzig, 1850-1860) and _die hansa als deutsche see- und handelsmacht_ (berlin, 1862). in 1862 he was appointed secretary of the state archives at dresden, and, a little later, keeper. he there began the study of saxon history, still devoting his attention chiefly to the history of commerce and economy, and published _die geschichte des kurfursten august von sachsen in volkswirthschaftlicher beziehung_ (leipzig, 1868) and _geschichte des deutschen zollwesens_ (leipzig, 1869). he died at dresden on the 2nd of march 1876.