Mitte in Hannover in Region Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany — Central Europe

Adolph Freiherr Knigge

Photographed by James Hulse, October 9, 2026

1. Adolph Freiherr Knigge Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hier wohnte
Adolph Freiherr Knigge
16. Okt. 1752 – 6. Mai 1796
Schriftsteller und Aufklärer, der für die Überwindung von Standesgrenzen stritt. 1788 erschien in der Buchhandlung Schmidt in Hannover sein Bestseller 'Über den Umgang mit Menschen', der so genannte 'Knigge'. Die als Benimmbuch verkannte Schrift entstand in einer Mietwohnung an dieser Stelle in der alten Calenberger Straße Nr. 261.

'… irre ich nicht, so ist der Gedanke, (…) Vorschriften für den Umgang mit allen Klassen von Menschen zu geben, noch neu.'
Aus der Vorrede 1788

Freiherr Adolph Knigge lived here. Writer and Enlightenment figure, campaigned for the abolition of class barriers. His bestseller 'On Human Relations' was published in Hannover 1788. Due to a misunderstanding of the philosophical nature of this work, the word 'Knigge' has become synonymous with books of etiquette.

'… if I am not mistaken, the idea (…) of providing rules for dealing with all classes of person is new.' From the Introduction to 'On Human Relations'

Erected by Landeshauptstadt Hannover. (Marker Number 142.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1752.

Location. 52° 22.194′ N, 9° 43.502′ E. Marker is in Hannover, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), in Region Hannover. It is in Mitte. It is at the intersection of Calenberger Straße and Dachenhausenstraße, on the left when traveling west on Calenberger Straße. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Calenberger Str 47, Hannover NI 30169, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

Central Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire

and also the former West Germany.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Letztes Adelspalais an der Calenberger Straße / Last Aristocratic Palace on Calenberger Straße (a few steps from this marker); Richard Lange (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Johann Anton Leisewitz (about 210 meters away); Neustädter Hof- und Stadtkirche St. Johannis / St. John's Court and City Church in the Neustadt (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Fürstenhof / Princely Court (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Ev.-reformierte Kirche / Evangelical Reformed Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Propsteikirche zu St. Clemens / Provost Church of St. Clement (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Josef Pels (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hannover.

Also see . . . Adolph Freiherr Knigge. Wikipedia

Adolph Freiherr von Knigge was born in Bredenbeck (now a part of Wennigsen, Lower Saxony) in the Electorate of Hanover as a member of the Knigge family, an old German nobility dating back to 13th century. He was the only son of Carl Philipp Freiherr Knigge (1723–1766) and his wife, Louise Wilhelmine Baroness Knigge (1730–1763), member of the same family from Weimar. When he was barely eleven, his mother died, and when his father died three years later the teenager inherited a large debt. His creditors took possession of the family property and assigned the boy a meagre
Photographed by James Hulse, October 9, 2026

2. Adolph Freiherr Knigge Marker
pension of 500 thalers.

(Submitted on November 2, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed by James Hulse, October 9, 2026

3. Adolph Freiherr Knigge Marker

Adolph Freiherr Knigge image. Click for full size.

Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons

4. Adolph Freiherr Knigge

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.