Jacob August Franckenstein (27 December 1689 – 10 May 1733) was the main editor of the first two volumes of Johann Heinrich Zedler's Grosses vollständiges Universal-Lexicon (Great Complete Universal Lexicon), the most important encyclopedia published in Germany in the 18th century.[1]
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Franckenstein was born and died in Leipzig; he was the son of the lawyer and historian Christian Gottfried Franckenstein.In August 1713 he acquired a master's degree in philosophy in Leipzig, and in 1719 he received a doctorate in law in Erfurt. From 1721 to 1732 he was professor of natural and international law at the University of Leipzig.In 1722 he was temporarily a Councilor at Zerbst, the seat of government of the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, but after two years he returned to teaching at the university.[1]
In 1731, Zedler asked Franckenstein to be the lead editor of the planned Universal Lexicon.[2]He already had some experience with the book market. He was a colleague and confidant of Professor Johann Burckhardt Mencke, publisher of the journal "New Learned Works" and other periodicals, a supporter of Zedler's mammoth project.[1]The first two volumes were prepared under Franckenstein's leadership.After two years, at a time of financial crisis, he fell out with Zedler and resigned from the job. His successor was Paul Daniel Longolius.[3]Franckenstein died in Leipzig two months later, on 10 May 1733.[1]