200th birthday of Friedrich List - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1989 - 170 Pfennig

Friedrich List is one of the central figures in the first half of the 19th century: as a political economist and administrative reformer, as a railway pioneer and champion for overcoming German petty statesmanship and its tariff barriers blocking every reasonable trade. What cradles Friedrich List when he was born on August 6, 1789, in the Free Imperial City of Reutlingen, and what he brings home from him - his father is Weißgerber - does not suggest at that time that he was born would once become a university professor, a deputy, a diplomat, an entrepreneur, a writer, and a scientist. After a not very splendid school time, he starts a tanner's apprenticeship in his father's workshop, but soon shows that he does not like working and working well. The "interested practical reason," which later a Karl Marx should boast about him, he can later bring to bear through the detour of an administrative career and a subsequent study. During this time, List also established his reputation as a political journalist - in 1816, he founds the political magazine "The Württembergische Archiv" and also writes three articles himself. Newspaper foundations, co-edition of various sheets and repeatedly articles in various newspapers and writings go on throughout his life, ensuring him again and again the often more than barren living. From 1817 to 1819, Friedrich List teaches as a professor of political science at the University of Tübingen, after which he works until 1820 as managing director of the German Trade Association and is also heavily involved in the lifting of tariff barriers in the German small states. In 1820 List becomes deputy of the Chamber of Deputies of the Estates. The unwavering attempt to see his progressive ideas realized brings him into conflict again and again; as well as with the Württemberg sovereign, which finally earned him a fortress punishment for insulting honor and defamation. After years of flight through Germany, Switzerland and France and a five-month detention on the Hohenasperg List 1824 decided to emigrate to North America, where he not only as a journalist (the "Reading Adler") is active, but also his first railway line for development the coal fields discovered by him builds. As an American consul, he returns to Germany in 1830 and settles first in Leipzig. From there he sets in numerous writings for the establishment of a German railway network, which leads to the founding of the line Leipzig-Dresden (1837 - built in 1839). In numerous other works he presents his thoughts on international trade, trade policy and the German Customs Union. His economic theory ripens from the American "outlines" to his major work "The National System of Political Economy". Highly esteemed abroad, he largely encounters distrust and rejection in the domain of Prince Metternich. It hits him particularly hard that the King of Württemberg does not rehabilitate him even after decades. Disgusted and desperate, Friedrich List finally put an end to his life on 30 November 1846 in Kufstein am Inn. (Text: city of Reutlingen)