AUGUST WILHELM IFFLAND

AUGUST WILHELM IFFLAND was a German dramatist, born in Hanover, April 19, 1759, died in Berlin, Sept. 22, 1814. At the age of 18 he made his debut upon the stage at Gotha, in one of Engel's comedies, in which he took the part of an old Jew. In 1779 he joined the theatrical company at Mannheim, and was the leading actor there when in the latter part of 1781 Schiller put into his hands the manuscript of the "Robbers." The play was produced in the succeeding January, with Iffland in the part of Franz Moor, and the success which attended the representation at once brought Schiller into notice, and confirmed the reputation of Iffland. The latter remained in Mannheim till 1796, when he assumed the direction of the national theatre of Berlin. In 1811 he was appointed general director of all the royal plays, and about the same time made an extended professional tour through Germany. His plays, chiefly of the class known as the domestic drama, were very successful in their day, and are still occasionally performed. Among the best of his works are _Die Jäger, Der Spieler_, and _Die Hagestolzen_. A collection of 47 of them was published in 16 vols. in Leipzig in 1798-1802, including a memoir of his theatrical career. Volumes containing other pieces were published in 1807-9 and in 1827; and in 1844 his select works appeared.