Matthias Christian Sprengel
Matthias Christian Sprengel was a German geographer and historian. He was notably the author of works on North American history, the American Revolution and Maratha history.
He studied history at the University of Göttingen as a pupil of August Ludwig von Schlözer. In 1778 he became an associate professor, and during the following year, relocated to the University of Halle as a full professor of history. At Halle he worked closely with Johann Reinhold Forster, who in time, became Sprengel's father-in-law.
From 1800 onward, he was editor of .
Selected works
Vom Ursprung des Negerhandels: Ein Antrittsprogramm, 1779 - From the origin of the slave trade.Geschichte der Europäer in Nordamerika, 1782 - History of Europeans in North America.Geschichte der Falkland-Inseln, 1781 - History of the Falkland Islands.Geschichte und Beschreibung der Philippinischen Inseln, 1782 - History and description of the Philippines.Neuester Zustand von Connecticut, 1782 - The recent state of Connecticut.Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-Amerika, 1785 - History of the Revolution in North America.Geschichte der Maratten, 1786 - History of Maratha Empire.Geschichte der wichtigsten geographischen Entdeckungen bis zur Ankunft der Portugiesen in Japan 1542 - History of the most important geographical discoveries until the arrival of the Portuguese in Japan in 1542.Auswahl der besten ausländischen geographischen und statistischen Nachrichten zur Aufklärung der Völker- und Länderkunde - Selection of the best foreign geographical and statistical notices for the explanation of geography and ethnographyMathias Christian Sprengels Erdbeschreibung von Ostindien, 1802 - Sprengel's geography of East India.