Story Highlights
- Historical event
- 16 December 1859
- The older brother, Jacob Grimm, never married, but younger Wilhelm did, when he was 39 years old. His wife’s name was Henriette Dorothea and she was a pharmacist’s daughter.
Wilhelm Grimm died on this day in 1859. He was the younger of the two brothers Grimm, who are famous writing children’s tales, as well as for their contribution to German linguistics. They created the famous “German dictionary” (Deutsches Wörterbuch), which till today remains the largest and most comprehensive dictionary of the German language in general.
The German folk- and fairy-tales that the Brothers Grimm collected and published, have been entertaining children already for over ten generations (200 years) in Germany and Europe, and around the world as well. Almost everybody has heard of their fairy tales, such as Hansel and Gretel (German: Hänsel und Gretel), Snow White (German: Schneewittchen), and Cinderella (German: Aschenputtel).
The older brother, Jacob Grimm, never married, but younger Wilhelm did, but only when he was 39 years old. His wife’s name was Henriette Dorothea and she was a pharmacist’s daughter. Interestingly, Jacob lived with his brother and his wife in the same household. There was reportedly such unity and harmony among them that it seemed the children were mutual. Apparently the brothers Grimm constantly lived together under the same roof and shared everything, including books and property.
Wilhelm died on this day in 1859 at 73 years of age, leaving behind three children. The older Jacob outlived him for almost four years, and died at the age of 78.
