German economist; born at Munich June 2, 1812; died at Giessen March 19, 1873. While still very young he lost both parents, and was cared for in the house of a well-known philologist, Döderlein, in Erlangen, after his brother, Friedrich Julius Stahl, had adopted Christianity. After completing his studies at the gymnasium he attended the universities of Munich and Halle, and devoted himself particularly to the study of physics and chemistry, later securing a position as teacher at the industrial school in Fürth. Encouraged by Professor Hermann of Erlangen, he applied himself zealously to the study of political economy, and finally established himself as docent of that science at the University of Erlangen, where he soon received an appointment as associate professor. In 1848 he was elected a representative to the Frankfort Parliament, and three years later received a call as professor at the University of Giessen, where he remained until his death.
Of Stahl's published works the following are the most important: "Die Einführung der Neueren Staatsprincipien im Grossherzogthum Hessen," Giessen, 1862; "Die Bedeutung der Arbeiter-Associationen in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart," ib. 1867; and "Das Deutsche Handwerk," ib. 1874.
- K. Umpfenbach, in Allg. Deutsche Biographie, xxxv. 403.