Editing Karl Friedrich Eichhorn (section)

== Life ==
Eichhorn was born in [[Jena]] as the son of [[Johann Gottfried Eichhorn]]. He entered the [[University of Göttingen]] in 1797. In 1805 he obtained the professorship of law at [[Viadrina|Frankfurt (Oder)]], holding it until 1811, when he accepted the same chair at the new [[Humboldt University of Berlin|Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin]]. On the [[Sixth Coalition|call to arms]] in 1813 he became a captain of horse, and received the [[Iron Cross]] at the end of the war.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1817 he was offered the chair of [[law]] at Göttingen, and, preferring it to the Berlin professorship, taught there with great success until ill-health compelled him to resign in 1828. His successor in the Berlin chair having died in 1832, he again entered on its duties, but resigned two years afterwards. In 1832 he also received an appointment in the ministry of foreign affairs, which, with his labours on many state committees and his legal researches and writings, occupied him until his death at [[Cologne]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} He was furthermore a member of the [[Preußisches Obertribunal|Prussian Supreme Tribunal]].{{Sfn|Frensdorff|1877}}{{Sfn|Bader|1959}}

Eichhorn was regarded as one of the principal authorities on German constitutional law. His chief work is ''Deutsche Staats- und Rechtsgeschichte'' (Göttingen, 1808–1823, 5th edition 1843–1844). In company with [[Friedrich Carl von Savigny]] and Johann Friedrich Ludwig Göschen he founded the ''Zeitschrift für geschichtliche Rechtswissenschaft''. He was the author besides of ''Einleitung in das deutsche Privatrecht mit Einschluss des Lehenrechts'' (Gött., 1823) and the ''Grundsätze des Kirchenrechts der Katholischen und der Evangelischen Religionspartei in Deutschland'', 2 Bde. (ib., 1831–1833).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}