Follen, Charles, 1796-1840

Charles Follen was a German-born educator, preacher, athlete, and reformer. His radical approach to reform in Germany made him unwelcome, and he fled to France, then Sweden, and finally America. During a checkered career at Harvard, he fomented a spirit of rebellion among students, taught wildly popular courses on German language and literature (the first such courses at Harvard), and incidentally introduced gymnastics to the school. After leaving Harvard, he was ordained as a Unitarian minister, and continued to agitate for reform, particularly in the anti-slavery movement.

From the description of Charles Follen letter to Dear sir, ca. 1830. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 53313352

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