Christian Friedrich Heinecken
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Note: Many of the elements of this tale are fantastic, so it can be considered an example of folklore.
Christian Friedrich Heinecken (1721-1725), a German, who was known as the "Infant of Lübeck," from the place where he was born, is said to have talked within a few hours after his birth.
Besides his remarkable faculty for numbers, he is said to have known, at the age of one year, all the principal events related in the Pentateuch; at two was well acquainted with historical events of the Bible, and at three had a knowledge of universal history and geography, Latin and French.
People came from all parts to see him, and Frederick IV of Denmark had him brought to Copenhagen in 1724, in order to assure himself of the truth of what he had heard regarding him. But shortly after this, little Heinecken was taken ill and predicted his own death, which took place at the tender age of four. (Barlow, 1952, pp. 135-136)
[edit] Sources
- Barlow, F. Mental prodigies. New York: Philosophical Library, 1952. (Out of Print)
