Simson, Paul

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SIMSON, PAUL

SIMSON, PAUL (1869–1917), German historian. Born in Elbing, East Prussia, Simson accepted a teaching post at the municipal college of Danzig. In 1906 he was appointed professor. During the interim he developed an interest in the city of Danzig and its history. His four-volume Geschichte der Stadt Danzig (1903–16) won him prominence as the author of the first scholarly history of Danzig. He was also active in Danzig's civic affairs, and became a member of the city council, where he was considered politically liberal. He started a civic group for conserving all architecture of significance in Danzig. Over the years, Simson maintained his stature as a scholar by publishing studies on East Prussia, Pomerania, Poland, and on the political and cultural history of Danzig.