HANOVER, Prussia, the capital of a prov ince, and formerly of the kingdom of Hanover, in an extensive plain northeast of and dom inated by Mount Linden, at the confluence of the Ihme with the Leine, 44 miles by rail west by north of Brunswick. It is the twelfth city of Germany in size and the seventh in Prussia. It consists of an old town, intersected by the Leine, and of various modern suburbs. The old town is unattractive, but the new quarters are regular and well built. The principal fea tures are the Markt Church, of antique appear ance; the Kreutz Church; Schloss Church, a handsome structure, with an altar-piece by Cranach, and some curious relics collected by Henry the Lion; several handsome modern churches; the palace (1636-40, rebuilt since 1817), now a royal Prussian residence; the former palace of King Ernest Augustus (in government occupancy); the Royal Library; the museum of art and science; the restored. town house (1439-55) ; the new town-house (formerly palace of George V) ; the Kestner Museum of Antiquities; the provincial assembly house; the Franco-German War monument; the Waterloo monument; various schools, among which is the technical high-school, a remodeled building of great extent, formerly the Welfenschloss (palace of the Guelphs), and the Schloss-Herrenhausen, formerly a royal residence. It is popular as an educational centre for foreigners, who are at tracted thither by the purity of the spoken language here and by the quiet charm of the city. There is also a veterinary high school, several teachers' training schools, several ly ceums and military and industrial schools. The Royal Library contains over 200,000 volumes and a valuable collection of manuscripts. In
the municipal library there are also several valuable manuscripts. The museums and vari ous collections contain a great selection of antiques of all kinds. As capital of the prov ince the city is the seat of the presidency and the higher courts. The city government is vested in a director, a syndic, an executive board of 17 magistrates and a municipal council of 24 members. The city has attained some in dustrial importance since the improvement and development in its railway connections. Trade and industries are important, the latter including railway works, oilcloth, bridge works, pianos, asphalt, leather, machinery, iron castings, cot ton, linen, tobacco, lacquered wares, lamps, &ass, chemicals, etc., breweries and distilleries. The city has electric street railroads.
Hanover is first mentioned in 1163. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1481, and re ceived the Reformation in 1533. It became the residence of the dukes of Brunswick-Luneburg, and the capital of the principality in 1636. In 1714, however, the Elector of Hanover became king of England as George I and until the death of William IV in 1837 Hanover was a provincial town of little importance. In 1866 the kingdom was absorbed by Prussia, and since 1890 the city has held the positions of a royal residence and capital. Sir William Herschel, the two Schlegels and Inland were born here. The city has grown and prospered under Prus sian rule. Consult Hartmann, der Residenz-stadt Hannover) (Hildesheim 1886) Hirschfeld, (Hannovers Grossindustrie and Grosshandel) (1891) ; Hoppe, der Stadt Hannover) (Hanover 1845). Pop. 302, 375.