KLAPROTH, Hsaistmen Jumus vox, was the son of Martin Heinrich Klaproth, an eminent chemist, and was b. at Berlin, Oct. 11, 1783. He betook himself to the study of the Chinese language when only a boy of fourteen. In 1801 he entered the univer sity of Halle. Here he published his Axintischer Magazin, which gave him a high reputation. Having gone to Russia in 1805 he was appointed interpreter to the Russian embassy to China. The embassy proceeding nearly 200 m. into Mongolia, was ordered by the Chinese emperor to return, but Klaproth took the opportunity of exploring Siberia. He was soon after dispatched on a scientific mission to the Caucasus; the results of his valuable explorations are contained la his Reke in den Kankacus lend Georgien in den J. 1807 and 1808 (2 vols. Halle, 1812-14; French, with numerous additions, Paris, 1823). While in Russia he received many honors. In 1812 he left the Russian service, and returned to Germany; but finally settled at Paris in 1815, where he died Aug. 20, 1835. Klaproth's literary activity, especially after 1815, was something prodigious; yet, strange to say, it was accompanied by an excessive love of pleasure, for the gratification df which Paris afforded him only too many facilities. His writings relate to the languages and history of the east, more particularly of China, and to the geography of the Russian empire; they are marked by immense learning and extraordinary acuteness, but unfortunately they also contain the most virulent attacks on other scholars. Among his works we may mention Beschrei
bung des Oestlichen Kaukasus (Weini. 1814); Beschveibang der Huss.. Provinzen zwischen dent Kaspisee send Schwarzen Meere (Bed. 1814); Verzeichniss der Chines. and Hind schaischen Bucher send Kanuscripte der Konigl. Bibliotheic in Berlin (Paris, 1822); Asia Polyglotta (with tables, 1823; 2d edit., Paris, 1829, with a life of Buddha according to the Mongolian legends), a work in which the various Asiatic nations are classified according to the affinities of their languages, and the beginning of their authentic history determined; Tableaux historiques de l'Asie depuis la Monarchie de Cyrus :paled nos jeers (4 vols. Paris, with 24 maps); Memoirei relatffs. a l'Asie (Paris, 1834); Collections eV Antiquias Egyptiennes (Paris, 1829); Examen Critique des Travaux de M. Champoltion jeune curies HiAroglyphes (Paris, 1832); Notice d'une Mappemonde et dune Cosmogravhie Chinoises publiees en Mine, rune en 1'730, i, autre en 1793 (Paris, 1833).