ELBING, a seaport town of Germany, in the Province of East Prussia, on the Elbing, 5 m. above the Frische Haff. Pop. 71,986. Elbing originated as a colony of traders, from Lubeck and Bremen, which established itself under protection of a castle of the Teutonic Knights, built in 1237. In 1246 the town acquired "Lubeck rights," i.e., the full autonomy conceded by the charter of the emperor Frederick II. in 1226 (see LvBECK), and it was early admitted to the Hanseatic League. In 1454 the town repudiated the overlordship of the Teutonic Order, and placed itself under the protection of the king of Poland, becoming the seat of a Polish voivode. From 156o to 1626 it was the seat of the English Eastland Company, and the sole emporium for Eng lish goods on the Baltic. Later its decline was hastened by the wars of the early 18th century. In 1772, when it fell to Prussia through the first partition of Poland, it was utterly decayed. The town is connected by canals to the Vistula and to lakes Geserich and Drewenz. The old town was formerly surrounded by forti fications, but of these only a few fragments remain. The Marien kirche dates from the century and is as restored in 1887. The classical school was founded in 1536. The town-hall (1894) contains a historical museum.
The great Schichau iron-works in Elbing make locomotives and machinery. In addition to this there are important iron foundries, and manufactories of cigars, lacquer and metal ware, ploughs, sugar, organs, etc. There is a considerable trade also in agricul tural produce.