Johann Christoph Florschütz
Johann Christoph Florschütz (1794-1882) was born in Coburg on 29th March 1794. He was the son of a grammar school teacher from Coburg, attended the gymnasium Casimirianum in Coburg and then studied philosophy and theology in Jena. He passed the examination for being a preacher in Coburg in 1815, but then became tutor of Ernest’s and Albert’s cousins, the sons of the Mensdorff-Pouilly family. However, then Duke Ernst I. of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha appointed Florschütz to be „Herzoglicher Rat und Prinzen-Instructor“ (Ducal Councillor and Instructor to the Princes). He took on his duties on 4th May 1823 and only completed them when Ernest and Albert had finished their studies at Bonn University in 1838.
Often described as a mother substitute, Florschütz dedicated the best years of his life to the two young princes. They called him „Herr Rath“, and he was their teacher, companion and lifelong friend. In the first few years, Florschütz made “the promotion of play and exercise in the open air – to tell stories or explain pictures” the chief occupation for the princes. Later, in more formal classes, he taught the princes religion, history, geography, philosophy and Latin. Mathematics and German was taught by other tutors. In his memoirs, Ernest II. recollected the differences between the teaching they had received from Florschütz and the teaching methods customary at Coburg’s gymnasium Casimirianun at the time:
“We received no lessons in classical Greek at all, whereas natural history, chemistry and physics were taught to us to an extent which was quite unusual in Germany at that time.”
Later he continued:
“… We were brought up more unprejudiced than many other princes. […] The lack of studying the Classics was replaced by a wide-ranging literature of translations or copies of classical literature and by a careful study of modern languages.”
According to Florschütz, the young Albert was “singularly easy to instruct.” “His studies,” Florschütz remarked later, “were a pleasure to him, not a task.” His constant love of occupation – for, in the words of his tutor, “to do something was with him a necessity; his perseverance and application, were only equalled by his facility of comprehension.”
Florschütz was the princes’ constant companion; he even accompanied them on all of their travels. However, he seemed to have returned to Coburg before Ernest and Albert concluded their studies at Bonn University because the correspondence between Prince Albert and Florschütz started in May 1838. Albert’s letters to Florschütz are intimate. It was Florschütz to whom Albert confided in with his most personal thoughts. In a letter written on 28th July 1838, Albert reported on his father’s visit to England to attend the coronation of Queen Victoria. Victoria had given her approval about Albert going on a study trip to Italy. At the end of this trip Albert were to come to England again with his father. Albert wanted to do everything to make Victoria decide for him, even things that weren’t in his nature. Hence he wrote about his upcoming trip to Italy:
“I want to return with such a mix of stiltedness, cheekiness, uninhibitedness, ease, loquaciousness about meaningless subjects, … being amused, making common place comments… throwing about French, English and Italian expressions that I should be seen as an elegant 19th century man of the world. So that one day I will be regarded as once Charles X was “il était le plus beau tanseur de la Reine.” (“he was the most beautiful gallant of the Queen.”) – This is today unavoidably necessary. Sometimes, I will shudder in silence when I look at myself; but I hope all this will only be a varnish that does not devour the core.”
From Italy he wrote to his teacher several times a month. The letters were often detailed, describing his experiences in Florence, Rome, Naples and on the Vesuvius. Florschütz, meanwhile, saw his task as the teacher of the princes fulfilled and took the opportunity to build his own family. On 19th February 1839, while Albert was in Florence, he married the daughter of Wilhelm August Genßler, who was General Superintendent of Coburg. Therese and Johann Christoph Florschütz had a daughter who married a Mr Heß, a councillor of the regional court in Meiningen.
When Prince Albert was living in England, he wrote to Florschütz less frequently, but not any less affectionately. Florschütz always received a response to the birthday wishes or congratulations on a newborn child he had sent to Albert, or New Year’s greetings. Albert also asked Florschütz to do certain things for him, such as locating children’s literature and other books that Ernest and Albert had used during their childhood and which he wanted to make available to his own children. From 1846, Florschütz also seemed to have taken over tasks as a librarian for Albert’s brother Ernest, by then Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
During Albert’s visit to Coburg in 1860, which was to be his last, the Prince saw Florschütz one last time in person. The photograph of Florschütz shown here is an albumen print from 1860 and was acquired by Albert. Today it is also part of the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. This is the Florschütz that Albert saw last.
Today’s hotel “Bärenturm” (bear tower) at the Untere Anlage 2 in Coburg was once part of the city wall. From 1822 to 1833 the “Bärenturm” actually housed two young bears, which were a gift from Prince Ferdinand of Coburg-Cohary. Later the building was converted, at ducal expense, into a residence for Florschütz. The teacher and friend lived there until he was almost 88 years old. After a short illness Florschütz died on 8th January 1882.
