Meta Wellmer (born Margarethe Wirth; 18 December 1826/1832 – 1 August 1889), who also wrote under the pseudonym M. Wirth, was a German writer, teacher, and activist. She was an advocate for animal welfare, vegetarianism, and women's rights.
Biography
Early life and education
Margarethe Wirth was either born on 18 December 1826 or in 1832 in Leonrod, Kingdom of Bavaria.[1][2] Her mother was Eva Margaretha Wirth, an unmarried weaver and the daughter of the mayor of Leonrod, who married Johann Geck in Deberndorf in 1830. Meta Wellmer later identified Michael Ludwig Wellmer [de] the Royal Bavarian District Judge and City Commissioner who died in Munich in 1859, as her father; however, it is uncertain whether he was her biological father, as he was not listed on her baptismal certificate.[3] Through him, she received a thorough education in the sciences, modern languages, and music.[4]
Career
Wellmer became a teacher at the age of 17.[4] She taught in Germany, Switzerland, Paris, London, Madrid, and Rome. During her career, she gained prominence as a writer, publishing multiple collections of poetry and short stories, along with numerous articles on topics such as education, nutrition, and women's rights in both domestic and international journals.[5]
Vegetarianism and animal welfare
Wellmer became a vegetarian in 1869 and was extremely active in the vegetarianism and animal welfare movements.[4] She was one of the early female contributors to the Vereinsblatt der Freunde der natürlichen Lebensweise ("Association Journal for Friends of the Natural Way of Life"). Her contributions included a poem in 1872 and a piece titled "Two Days of Travel" in Switzerland from a vegetarian perspective in 1874. She was one of the few women who regularly wrote for the journal during the late 19th century.[6]
Wellmer also published independent works focused on animal welfare. Additionally, she authored the book Die vegetarische Lebensweise und die Vegetarier ("The Vegetarian Way of Life and the Vegetarians"; 1877).[6]
Correspondence
Wellmer was a correspondent of Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher Thomas Carlyle, and his family.[7]
Wellmer wrote to Friedrich Nietzsche in 1875, enclosing a copy of her book Geistergeschichten aus neuerer Zeit ("Ghost Stories from Modern Times"). In the letter, she discusses her admiration for Schopenhauer's philosophy, particularly the moral and ethical implications it has on daily life. She highlights her commitment to vegetarianism, which she adopted after recognizing it as the only moral and humane way of life, and proposes the creation of a society for Schopenhauer's followers to promote his teachings, including equality, kinship, and support for others.[8]
Theophile: Eine Erzählung [Theophile: A Story]. Halle. 1876.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Deutsche Erzieherinnen und deren Wirkungskreis [German Female Educators and Their Sphere of Influence]. Leipzig. 1877.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
