Otto Wilhelm Masing
The next most important historical figure in Estonia is Otto Wilhelm Masing. Otto Wilhelm Masing (November 8, 1763 in Lohusuu, Kreis Dorpat, Livland Governorate – March 15, 1832 in ksi, Livland Governorate) was an early Baltic German Estophile and a major advocate of peasant rights, particularly in education. He attended the Narva town school (1777-1779) and then the Torgau Gymnasium (1779-1782) before studying theology, music, and drawing at the University of Halle before returning to Estonia in 1786.
His first job after finishing his studies was as a private tutor for the children of the nobleman Otto Magnus von Toll at the Manor in Neu-Isenhof (Püssi). In 1788, he became pastor of the (Lutheran) church in Lüg (Lüganuse) (1788-1795), then in Maholm (Viru-Nigula) (1795-1815) and in Ecks (ksi), where he remained until his death. He also served as assessor of the Livonia consistory beginning in 1818, and as Provost of Tartu beginning in 1821.
Masing compiled and published the ABD, a children's textbook for learning to read, in 1795. (The letter 'C' does not appear in Estonian words and was not considered a member of the Estonian alphabet at the time. Given this, the title could be translated as "ABC." In 1821, he published the Luggemislehhed, a textbook with methodical reading instructions. From 1821 to 1823, Masing published a newsletter called Marahva Näddala-Leht (Estonian for Peasant's Weekly), which was one of the first regular publications in Estonian. Among other things, Masing is credited with inventing the letter " to represent an Estonian phoneme not found in other related languages.
