„(…) die wissenschaftliche Welt im Ausland erwartet, dass wir vor allen anderen dieses Forschungsfeld bearbeiten (…)“: Otto Donner (1835–1909) als Orientalist und Finnougrist

Even though an Indologist and Orientalist by training, Otto Donner (1835–1909) was a prolific figure in the creation of Finno-Ugric studies as an academic discipline. This is no contradiction, since Finno-Ugric studies were regarded as part of Oriental sciences throughout most of the 19th century. This article follows Donner’s career and his attempts of establishing Finno-Ugric studies as an independent academic discipline with Helsinki as an internationally recognized centre of research. Special attention is given to Donner’s connections to Orientalists and linguists in Germany, where he spent some of his formative years as a young researcher.