Jelgava Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia. Based on an idea by , it was established in Mitau, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, by Duke Peter von Biron in 1775. The duke wanted to attract professors like Immanuel Kant and Johan Gottfried Herder, but they refused.
After the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jelgava became part of the Russian Empire and the gymnasium unsuccessfully petitioned to become a university. Nevertheless, it became an important cultural hub not only for Latvians, but also Lithuanians. Many famous professors had lectured in Academia Petrina for example Johann Benjamin Koppe (1775), Johann August von Starck (1777–1781) and (1775–1811).
During World War I, the school was evacuated to Taganrog in Rostov Oblast while its 42,000-volume library was burned by troops of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. During World War II, the historical school building was almost completely destroyed, therefore school was reestablished in new premises. The original building was later restored and now functions as the Jelgava History and Art Museum.
Name 1775 Academia Petrina Gymnasium Petrinum'Universitäten im östlichen Mitteleuropa: Zwischen Kirche, Staat und Nation', S. 43 https://books.google.com/books?isbn=3486845462 since 1837: official name in German Gouvernements-Gymnasium 1934 to 1940: Hercoga Pētera ģimnāzija (Herzog-Peter-Gymnasium) after 1945: Jelgavas 1. vidusskola (Jelgavan Secondary School Nr. 1) 15. August 1991: 1. Gymnasium 2012: Jelgavas Tehnoloģiju vidusskola (Technical Secondary School Jelgava)
History The establishment of the academy was based on an idea by Friedrich Wilhelm von Raison: "But the whole province owes him excellent thanks for the effective part, which he took at the foundation of the Mitauian Gymnasium. He was actually the one who persuaded Duke Peter to do so; it was he who corresponded with Sulzern regarding the plan to be drawn up and because of the appointment of the first teachers and he who prescribed the books for the library and the instruments for the observatory; just as he also continuously participated in the perfection of the institute until his death". Allgemeines Schriftsteller- und Gelehrten-Lexikon der Provinzen Livland, Esthland und Kurland, bearbeitet von Johann Friedrich von Recke, Karl Eduard Napiersky, Dritter Band, L-R, Mitau 1831, S. 461–463
The intention was to establish a complete university with all four faculties in Mitau. This plan was rejected because of Kurland's dependence on Catholic-Polish rule. Under the law of Poland a university could not be founded without the consent and confirmation of the Pope, and it was unclear whether and when the permission by the papal curia to establish a Protestant theological faculty could have been obtained. Therefore, this intention was abandoned and it was decided to found an academic gymnasium which - half school, half university - should enjoy all the rights of a university, with the exception of the privilege of granting academic dignity.
People Notable students Name Birth Death Later occupation Karl Ferdinand Amenda 1771 1836 Music teacher and close friend of Ludwig van Beethoven Jānis Čakste 1859 1927 President of Latvia Alberts Kviesis 1881 1944 President of Latvia Antanas Smetona 1874 1944 President of Lithuania Ernestas Galvanauskas 1882 1967 Prime Minister of Lithuania Mykolas Sleževičius 1882 1939 Prime Minister of Lithuania Krišjānis Barons 1835 1923 Latvian folklorist Kārlis Mīlenbahs 1853 1916 Latvian philologist Wincenty Lutosławski 1863 1954 Polish philosopher
Teachers Name Birth Death Occupation at the school Johann Melchior Beseke 1746 1802 Jurisprudence Johann Benjamin Koppe 1750 1791 1775, Greek language Johann August von Starck 1741 1816 1777–1781, Philosophy Wilhelm Gottlieb Friedrich Beitler 1745 1811 1775–1811 mathematics Johann Jacob Ferber 1743 1790 chemistry and natural history 1717 1779 1776–1777 Heinrich Friedrich Jäger 1747 1811 1775–1789 Johann Nicolaus Tiling 1739 1798 1775–1798 Johann Gabriel Schwemschuch 1733 1803 1775–1798 Matthias Friedrich Watson 1733 1805 Johann Gottlieb von Groschke 1760 1828 natural history and chemistry Johann Daniel von Braunschweig 1786 1857 1817–1837 Charles Toussaint 1813 1877 French Magnus Georg Paucker 1787 1855 1813–1855 mathematics und astronomy
References
External links Official website