Bernhard Rudolf Abelen (born December 1 1780 in Osnabrück, died February 24 1866) was a German philologist and literature historian.

After finishing his college in 1799, Abelen went to the University of Jena to study theology, and also began with philosophy and general studies. While in Jena, he often visited the house of Johann Jakob Griesbach where he had the opportunity to meet with famous German poets. This led him soon to abandon his initial career aspiration and to engage in newer literature and general education.

In 1802, he became teacher in the house of minister von der Recke . In 1808 he went to Weimar to educate Schiller's children. In 1810 he became vice headmaster at the college of Rudolstadt . Five years later, he answered the call to the college of Osnabrück, where he became headmaster in 1841. Abalen retired in 1863, but nevertheless continued to teach about Sophocles and Cicero till his death in 1866.

Bernhard is the father of two famous sons, Hermann Abelen and Wilhelm Ludwig Abelen.

Works

• Beiträge zum Studium der göttlichen Comödie Dante's, 1826
• Cicero in seinen Briefen, 1835
• Ein Stück aus Goethe's Leben, 1848
• Goethe in den Jahren 1771-75, 1861
• editor of the complete edition of the works of Justus Möser , 1842-43

Sources

• Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie - online version