Frīdrihs Augusts Čarnevskis
05.08.1766 – 23.09.1832
Friedrich August CZARNEWSKI (1766-1832) was a Baltic German writer and the author of the first biography of G. F. Stender (1805). Czarnewski wrote occasional poems, a book on pig breeding for Latvians, an alphabet for Germans, and released serial publications. His life was marked by several adventurous events – having returned to Kurzeme in 1793, he called himself a Goslar canon, which got him into trouble because of an apparent conversion to Catholicism and ties with the Jesuit Order. As an inspector of schools in Jelgava district in 1805, he demanded to be called a doctor, but in 1811 wanted to retire from the responsibilities of a school inspector, however, was not relieved from his obligations. During the French invasion of Liepaja, he fled with the entire funds of the Jelgava district schools to Berlin and Hamburg, where he fell into French hands as a potential spy. Czarnewski managed to escape to Königsberg. Due to allegations of embezzlement, Czarnewski was caught, brought back to Jelgava and tried, but released, and ordered to repay the money of Jelgava district schools. Part of the debt was cleared by Czarnewski's friend.