The German classical scholar and philologist Friedrich August Wolf (1759-1824) laid the foundations for modern philology through his scientific treatment of the classical period.

Friedrich Wolf was born at Hagenrode near Hanover on Feb. 15, 1759. When the 18-year-old Wolf entered the University of Göttingen, already proficient in several ancient and modern languages, he demanded that he be enrolled in the faculty of philology. The fiery young scholar was unaware that such a faculty did not exist in the university. The rebellious Wolf persisted, however, and he indeed was enrolled as he desired, only to leave the university 2 years later completely disillusioned by the curriculum and his professors.

In 1783 Wolf became professor of philosophy and pedagogy at the University of Halle, where he taught for the next 23 years. In his early career he published studies on Plato, Hesiod, Lucian, Demosthenes, Herodian, and Cicero. Both these studies and his...