Gotthard Friedrich Stender was born in in the family of the
Lutheran pastor Hermann Konrad Stender. His grandfather was also a pastor in the
Selonia region of Duchy of Courland. He got his first education from his father, but later studied in
Subate German school where one of his main interests was
Latin. From 1736 until 1739, Stender studied
theology,
rhetoric and
ancient languages in universities of
Jena and
Halle. Upon returning to Courland he worked as a private tutor in
Lielbērstele, a teacher in
Jelgava and from 1744 a Lutheran pastor in Linde-
Birzgale and later
Žeimelis parish. In 1759, together with his family, Stender relocated to
Königslutter in
Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, where he worked as a rector for a local school, but a few months later after a conflict with a local clergyman, they moved to
Copenhagen, where he worked as a geography teacher at a cadet school. There, using an innovative approach he made a
globe for King of Denmark
Frederik V. Stender also became interested in ideas of
Freemasonry and became a member of a lodge. In 1765, Stender returned to
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. For the rest of his life, he served as a pastor in the
Sēlpils and
Sunākste parishes. Gotthard Friedrich Stender died in his home in Sunākste, 17 May 1796. His son , grandson and great-grandson were all Lutheran pastors as well. ==Works==