Educated at the Berlin Gymnasium and Berlin University, Hecker left his studies when he was 18 to take part in the war against Napoleon. He returned to the University in 1817 and received his doctorate degree. Thereafter, he was employed by the Medical Faculty of the University. His interest in history led him to publish The History of Medicine, the first volume of which appeared in 1822. On the basis of this work, which was very well received, he was appointed Extraordinary Professor of the History of Medicine until 1834 when the position became a full professorship. He then held that post until his death. In 1832, Hecker published The Black Death and followed with The Dancing Mania later that same year. He also published numerous articles in Medical journals and contributed to various Encyclopaedias. Hecker's other important work was Great Epidemics of the Middle Ages, which was published posthumously in 1865. |
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