ABSTRACT
Immanuel Kant's attitude to his brother and sisters has not always been judged aright and has given rise to misinterpretations of his character. His only brother, Johann Heinrich, grew up in the household of their uncle Richter, whom we have mentioned earlier on, after the father's death. After studying theology in Konigsberg, he was obliged to earn his living as a private tutor with various families in Courland. Only in 1774 did he become senior assistant master and, a year later, headmaster at Mitau municipal school. As the vocation of a minister later came to appeal to him more strongly, he took over the pastorate of the Courland village of Altrahden, where he enjoyed a happy family life with his wife, Marie Havemann, and their four children. There was no close contact between the brothers. The celebrated Konigsberg relation certainly received frequent letters from his younger brother, as well as from the latter's daughter, written in a cordial tone.
