DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0062
48 ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MISS THEODORA GRAHN;
[Of this celebrated Female, of whose real origin, all the accounts hitherto
published^ have been widely erroneous ; we are enabled to present the fol-
' lowing particulars respecting her early life, from some Memoirs of her, just
published at Berlin, the real place of her nativity. J
Phis person was the only daughter of an architect, of the
name of Grahn, who erected several edifices in the city
of Berlin, particularly the Church of St. Peter’s ; and who
died in 1740, at Bayreuth. After his decease, his daugh-
ter returned to Berlin, and resided with a relative. With
much natural capacity, she was proportionably eccentric in
her manners. She wrote an excellent hand, and had learned
the Mathematics, theFrench, Italian, and English languages.
Her audit dying in 1758, she left her a legacy of 1000 rix-
dollars ; which to improve, she immediately commenced
the business of an Exchange Broker. During- the seven
years’ war,, which was very favourable for her occupation,
she did a great deal of business, and was to be seen every
day from one counting-house to another, all through the.
city. In dirty weather she began to wear boots, and ■with
two large bags on each arm, though she had not then-
thrown by the dress of a female, cut a very remarkable
figure. At the end of the war, she had more than doubled
her capital: she then went again to Bayreuth, in Pnissia ;
but when she returned, appeared altogether in man’s attire,,
dressed like a huntsman :—This- was in 1768.-—She then,
for the first time, styled herself, Baron de Verdion, pre-
tending she had some estates to justify the title. She was,
however, not taken much notice of, till M. Basedow, at
the end. of 1769, commenced his Scholastic Reforms in
Germany. Baron de Verdion, with other persons of in-
genuity, became an enthusiast in his cause , and in fine,,
engaged with him as his secretary and amanuensis. Hence,
being shut up with him in private, whole days together,
it wave occasion to the tongue of rumour, which knew De
Verdion
[Of this celebrated Female, of whose real origin, all the accounts hitherto
published^ have been widely erroneous ; we are enabled to present the fol-
' lowing particulars respecting her early life, from some Memoirs of her, just
published at Berlin, the real place of her nativity. J
Phis person was the only daughter of an architect, of the
name of Grahn, who erected several edifices in the city
of Berlin, particularly the Church of St. Peter’s ; and who
died in 1740, at Bayreuth. After his decease, his daugh-
ter returned to Berlin, and resided with a relative. With
much natural capacity, she was proportionably eccentric in
her manners. She wrote an excellent hand, and had learned
the Mathematics, theFrench, Italian, and English languages.
Her audit dying in 1758, she left her a legacy of 1000 rix-
dollars ; which to improve, she immediately commenced
the business of an Exchange Broker. During- the seven
years’ war,, which was very favourable for her occupation,
she did a great deal of business, and was to be seen every
day from one counting-house to another, all through the.
city. In dirty weather she began to wear boots, and ■with
two large bags on each arm, though she had not then-
thrown by the dress of a female, cut a very remarkable
figure. At the end of the war, she had more than doubled
her capital: she then went again to Bayreuth, in Pnissia ;
but when she returned, appeared altogether in man’s attire,,
dressed like a huntsman :—This- was in 1768.-—She then,
for the first time, styled herself, Baron de Verdion, pre-
tending she had some estates to justify the title. She was,
however, not taken much notice of, till M. Basedow, at
the end. of 1769, commenced his Scholastic Reforms in
Germany. Baron de Verdion, with other persons of in-
genuity, became an enthusiast in his cause , and in fine,,
engaged with him as his secretary and amanuensis. Hence,
being shut up with him in private, whole days together,
it wave occasion to the tongue of rumour, which knew De
Verdion