Ferdinand Blumentritt

Blumentritt in 1890
Blumentritt in 1890

Born
10 September 1853
Prague, Austrian Empire

Died
20 September 1913 (aged 60)
Leitmeritz, Austria-Hungary

Occupation
Author, secondary school teacher and director, ethnography

Language:
German, English, Czech

Blumentritt was born in Prague (now the Czech Republic, then the capital of Kingdom of
Bohemia in the former Austrian Empire).

Blumentritt wrote extensively about the Philippines, although he never visited the
islands, corresponding with the then Filipino student and writer José Rizal, who later
became a national hero. Blumentritt's relationship with Rizal began as early as July
1886.[2] Blumentritt became one of Rizal's closest confidants although they met only
once. He translated a chapter of the latter's first book, Noli Me Tangere, into German
and wrote the preface to Rizal's second book, El filibusterismo, although he was against
its publication as he believed that it would lead to Rizal's death. These two novels are
commentaries disguised as fiction which angered both the Catholic Church and the
Spanish colonial government, and which eventually led to Rizal's 1896 trial and
execution. Before the execution in Manila, Rizal wrote his final letter for Blumentritt.[3][4]
Blumentritt reportedly cried after receiving the letter.

Alongside Rizal, Blumentritt was a significant contributor to the publication La

Solidaridad, published by Filipino expatriates from 1889 to 1895 as a voice for advocacy
of political reforms in the Philippines.[5] From 1900, Blumentritt was a member of the
Berlin Society for Anthropology.

Blumentritt died in Litoměřice (German: Leitmeritz), Bohemia. He is memorialized in the

Philippines by numerous public parks and streets. Among them are Blumentritt Road,
Blumentritt station (Line 1), Blumentritt railway station, the Blumentritt Market in Metro
Manila and the Blumentritt Street in Naga City and Tuguegarao. His relations with Rizal
also caused the twin status of the Czech town of Litoměřice with the Philippine towns of
Calamba (Rizal's birthplace) and Dapitan (where Rizal was initially exiled).