Christoph Gottlieb (Theophil) von
Murr
, , ,
born Nürnberg, 06. Aug 1733
died Nürnberg, 08. Apr 1811
Dr. jur., jurist, historian, weighmaster, polyhistor,
Son of Georg Christoph († 1756), sub-custodian in the suburb of Gostenhof.
Attended the Egidiengymnasium, from 16.11.1751 in Altdorf studied law and political science as main subjects, besides philosophy, mathematics, natural sciences, archaeology and history as subsidiary subjects, 1754 doctorate in Altdorf.
1756-61 travels for many years to France, Holland, England, Austria and Italy.
1770 Waagamtmann in Nuremberg. He was one of the most versatile and important scholars of Nuremberg in the 18th century. His writings included about 200 titles on history, antiquity, law and political science, ethnology, linguistics, oriental studies, art, literature and music.
He was editor of the "Journal zur Kunstgeschichte und zur allgemeinen Literatur", Nuremberg 1775-89 (17 volumes), followed by two more volumes in 1798-1800.
He translated numerous works, also from English; he visited England several times. He bequeathed his estate to his friend Dr. Johann Albert Colmar. The auction catalogue of his library from 1811 comprised 5835 numbers and contains a Latin biography written by Joh. Ferd. Roth.
He was the owner of the house S. 168a (Augustinerstraße 5).
The Murrstraße was named after him.
Works: Beschreibung der vornehmsten Merkwürdigkeiten in der Reichsstadt Nürnberg in deren Bezirke und auf der Universität Altdorf (1778, 2nd ed. 1801); Beschreibung der sämtlichen Reichskleinodien und Heiligthümer, welche in der des H. R. Reichs freyen Stadt Nürnberg aufbewahrt werden, Nürnberg, 1790; Verz. der in seinen Werken enthaltenen Nürnberger Prospekte s. C. G. Müller, 1791, pp. 26, 28, 121, 122, 125, 126, 127, 147, 149, 161, 164, cont. I, P. 37.
MuS: NÜRNBERG, StadtB. -, StAN.
Lit.: ADB; Will, GL II, p. 699 u. VI, p. 468-483 u. VIII, p. 466; E. Meyer-Camberg, in: MVGN 70, 1983; Bernd Lorenz: Nürnberger Ärzte als Büchersammler, in: MVGN 72, 1985; Berühmte Nürnberger, 1989; Stadtlexikon 2000; P. Zahn, in: AB 2006, p. 68; Kohn, NHb Sebald.
Exhibited: 1960/11; 1966/16; 1978/5; 1982/6.
(quoted from the Nuremberg Künstlerlexikon, edited by Manfred H. Grieb)
