BROCKHAUS, brolc'hows, Friedrich Arnold, German publisher, founder of the publishing firm of Brockhaus in Leipzig: b. Dortmund, 4 May 1772; d. Leipzig, 20 Aug. 1823. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town, and in 1793 went to Leipzig, where he de voted two years to the acquisition of scientific knowledge and the principal modern languages of Europe. In 1795 he established at Dortmund a mercantile house for the sale of English manufactures, which he removed to Arnhcim, in the Netherlands, in 1801, and to Amsterdam in 1802. Although he managed his business with success, he abandoned it out of distaste for mer cantile pursuits in 1804, and entered into the book trade at Amsterdam. After the annexa tion of Holland to the French empire (1810), Brockhaus returned to Germany, and reopened his establishment in Altenburg (1811). In 1813 the firm received the title of F. A. Brockhaus. In 1808 Brockhaus had purchased the copy right of the German 'Konversations-Lexikon,' which had been begun in 1796. In 1809-10 he completed the 1st edition by the publication of two supplementary volumes. In 1812 he be
gan to publish the second edition of this work, which was finished under his own editorship. It was favorably received and had an extensive sale. The business now rapidly extended, and was removed to Leipzig in 1817. It still is carried on by the grandsons of the founder, and there are now chief branches in Berlin and Vienna. Among the literary undertakings of the house have been several important critical periodicals and some large historical and bib liographical works, notably Ersch and Gruber's Allgemeine Enzyklopiidie ( 167 vols. since 1818, incomplete). The (Konversations-Lex ikon,' distinctively associated with the name of Brockhaus, has now reached a 14th edition. The 5th edition of the (Kleines Konversations Lexikon) appeared in 1910 (2 vols). Consult Brockhaus, H. E, (F. A. B., sein Leben and Wirken' (3 vols., Leipzig, 1872-81) ; and the same author's (Die Firma F. A. B. von der Begriindung bis zum hundertjihrigen Jubi lium, 1805-1905' (Leipzig 1905).