Raimund was born in Vienna as a son of
Bohemian
woodturning master craftsman Jakob Raimann. In 1811, he acted at the
Theater in der Josefstadt, and, in 1817 at the
Leopoldstädter Theater. In 1823 he produced his first play,
Der Barometermacher auf der Zauberinsel, which was followed by
Der Diamant des Geisterkönigs (1824). The still popular
Bauer als Millionär (1826),
Der Alpenkönig und der Menschenfeind (1828) and
Der Verschwender (1834), incidental music by
Conradin Kreutzer, are Raimund's masterpieces. Raimund's comedies are still frequently performed in Germany and Austria. When Raimund was bitten by a dog, which he falsely believed to be
rabid, he shot himself on 29 August 1836 and died on 5 September 1836 in Pottenstein, aged 46. Raimund is buried in
Gutenstein, which features a Raimund memorial. Raimund was a master of the Viennese
Posse or
farce; his rich humour is seen to best advantage in his realistic portraits of his fellow citizens. The
Raimund Theater in Vienna is named after him. == Works ==