History Muhlenberg legend

franz löher, 1847 german book included version of story.

the legend has long history, , led number of analyses , articles published late 1920s 1950s explaining why story not true. story dubbed muhlenberg legend @ least late 1940s. nevertheless, legend persists.

for example, in 1987, letter former election official in missouri emphasized importance of voting in ann landers column. included list of events allegedly decided 1 vote local election manual, including “in 1776, 1 vote gave america english language instead of german. (in fact, versions of error-filled list long predate 1987 ann landers mention.) led round of news stories again pointing out myth. oblivious corrections of sort, ann landers ran same list again in november 1996. chorus of dismayed responses caused landers clear matter in subsequent column. according 1 letter writer, begged landers stomp out piece of fiction wherever encounter it, myth gained traction in 1930s due work of nazi propagandists.

another version of myth puts vote in 1774 continental congress, appeared in ripley s believe or not! 1930. ripley s included myth in 1982 book well. ripley s version credits story alleged letter heinrich melchior muhlenberg published in halle in 1887.

most accounts credit franz von löher source of legend. löher german visitor united states published book geschichte und zustände der deutschen in amerika (history , achievements of germans in america) in 1847. löher seemingly placed crucial vote in pennsylvania, make german official language of state, not united states whole. (philadelphia u.s. congress sat @ time, capital of pennsylvania. further confuse matters, muhlenburg did serve speaker of pennsylvania house before serving in title u.s. congress.) according löher, vote tied, , muhlenberg cast tie-breaking vote english.