FRANCKE, AUGUST HERMANN

born March 22, 1663, Lbeck died June 8, 1727, Halle, Brandenburg Protestant religious leader, educator, and social reformer who was one of the principal promoters of German Pietism, a devotional revival of personal Christianity that reacted to academic Lutheranism. Influenced by the religious enthusiasm movement of Philipp Jakob Spener, Francke founded Pietist groups at the University of Halle, where he taught theology and Oriental languages (16951727). His religious society was criticized by traditional Lutherans for its biblical revivalism and social activism, particularly the founding (1695) at Halle of the Franckesche Stiftung (Francke Institute), which included a school for the poor, orphanage, medical dispensary, and publishing house. Dismissed by the established church, Francke later received the favour of King Frederick William I of Prussia, who, influenced by a visit to the institute (1713), initiated legislation for similar educational centres in his realm.