BRENTANO, LUDWIG JOSEPH. - German sociologist and economist, b. at Aschaffenburg, 18 Dec. 1844, d. at Munich, 9 Sept. 1931. He was one of the principal representatives of the historical school of economics, or ethical school. After studying in Dublin, in 1870, with his first study On the history and development of gilds and the origins of trade-unions and then with the fundamental Die Arbeitsgilde der Gegenwart (Leipzig 1871-72), he thoroughly analyzed all phases of the workers’ movement from the period of medieval guilds down to modern times, especially from the standpoint of living and working conditions. Professor of economics at Breslau (1872-82), Strasbourg (1882-88), Vienna (until 1889), Leipzig (until 1891), and finally Munich (until 1916), he developed his scholarly activity chiefly in a theoretical direction through numerous publications.
German delegate to the London economic conference of 1919, he continued to carry on notable scholarly activity until his death: Geschichte der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung Englands (Jena 1928); Mein Leben im Kampf um die soziale Entwicklung Deutschlands (ibid. 1931).