Ernst Heinrich Toelken

Ernst Heinrich Toelken (June 24, 1795, Bremen – January 26, 1878) was a German anatomist, physicist, and archaeologist.

Ernst Toelken was born in Leipzig, Germany, to Bremen businessman Heinrich Toelken. He was taught at home by his parents with an emphasis on religion and cultural education. He was the eldest of his brothers, all of whom achieved scientific distinction. After his father died, Toelken was raised by his grandfather, the businessman Ernst Trüper. Toelken went to several schools in his home town and then spent 1794-1802 at the Pädagogium, graduating with honours. Toelken continued his education privately, including studying French, English and Italian under several teachers. He also taught himself ancient Greek and studied spherical trigonometry under Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus.

On 25 April 1804, Toelken matriculated in the theological faculty of the Georgia Augusta at Göttingen. He shifted focus, opting not for Eichhorn's and Planck's theological courses but instead for history, philosophy and philology, though still linking them back to theology. With his mother's approval, he spent the autumn of his first semester taking the first of his characteristic trips, this time through Germany and Switzerland, of which trip he notes: "idque pene totum pedibus confeci". On returning to Göttingen, he resumed his multilateral studies, spending a year under professor Thibaut studying the Analysis of finite and infinite sizes, stating later that "Scientist quoque naturae indagatries, physicam et chemicam paululum attigi." The studies in ancient and recent history became more and more significant. At the midpoint of his study at Göttingen, he studied under Herbart. Toelken was also a member of Herbart's secret society:

Translation: "The man of a singular, of which we can never sufficiently praise of friendship done me many kindnesses, and is able to."

Herbart had many talented students who combined philological and pedagogic interests characteristic of the New Humanists, including Ernst Karl Friedrich Wunderlich, Georg Ludolf Dissen, and Friedrich Thiersch.

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