6.10.1798

born in Wasserthaleben (today: Thuringia) as 5th child of 13, father: Johann Gottlieb Zahn, there pastor at the Lutheran church in 3rd generation in succession,
Mother: Anna née Koch

1815

Law studies in Jena

1822

Studied theology in Berlin, accepted by Baron v. Kottwitz

1823

Trip with v. Kottwitz to Silesia

1825

Turns to teacher education

1825 – 1827

Teacher at the school teachers' seminar in Weißenfels

01.07.1827

Marriage is Anna Schlatter (daughter of Anna Schlatter-Bernet from St. Gallen)

1827

anonymous pamphlet "Dinter and his bible of school principals

1827 – 1832

Director of Fletscher's Seminary Dresden (Trustees: Count v. Einsiedeln, Count Dohna)

1830

Ed. "The Kingdom of God on Earth" for teachers, advanced students and for self-study, Handbook on Biblical Church History "Passion Booklet" for the benefit of the deaf and dumb.

1831

"Biblical History together with Memorabilia from Church History - History of the Kingdom of God" (Vol.l).

1832

Takes up office in Moers as director of the Royal Prussian Teachers' Seminary in Moers (as direct successor to the founding director Adolf Diesterweg)

Foundation of the Rheinische Schulbuchhandlung "Biblical Histories" assigned according to the church year, provided with teachings, Bible verses and songs (later added 40 illustrations)

1834

Submission to the Prussian government concerning the necessity of preparatory schools. Further submissions: 1833, 1841 "The Kingdom of God on Earth", Part II (Harmony of the Gospels).

1835

Opening of own print shop

1836

Foundation of a preparatory school on a private basis

1837

"Lehrer-Spiegel" in honor of Dr. Harnisch Acquisition of the Fild estate near Moers (190 acres)

1838

"Guide for Bible Readers."
Foundation of a "Free Conference" with Pastor Bräken, Neukirchen Foundation of an institution for the deaf and dumb
School calendar, hymnal, catechism for teaching Martin Luther Handbook 2nd part.

1841

Laying of the foundation stone and construction of the education house 1 on the Fild estate

1843

Collapse of the 2nd education house during the construction phase

1844

School chronicle 1st year (hrgg. to 1854)
"From the church song"
Foundation of the "Filder Teachers' Conference" Bible Conference in Ruhrort

1845

25th anniversary of the teachers' seminar in Moers, jubilee celebration, start of public intervention in school policy, petitions to Minister Eichhorn
Memorandum: "Ein Wort über die Leitung des Volkschulwesens" (published in the School Chronicle in 1845). This is considered the first example in school and church history that formulates the demands of the elementary school teachers.
Report of the Prussian School Administration,
Justification d. F.L.Tooth

1846

Publication of the 1st edition of the "Village Chronicle" (until 1885),
later also called "Der Grafschafter" is considered as a predecessor - magazine of today's Rheinische Post

1848

Participation in the teachers' meeting in St. Goar Memorandum: In the matter of the elementary school system
Foundation of the "Verein evangelischer Lehrer- und Schulfreunde" (Association of Protestant Teachers and School Friends) (purpose: free conference activities)

1849

Participation in the Ev. Kirchentag in Wittenberg

1850

Participation in the Ev. Kirchentag in Stuttgart Hrg. "Filder Bibelkalender" (Filder Bible Calendar)

1852

Silver wedding anniversary (Anna u. Franz Ludwig have 11 children, 8 of them reach adulthood)

1853

Visit of the Prussian King, Frederick William VI,
at the teacher training seminar and at Gut Fild with F.L.Zahn.
He grants permission to establish a private family cemetery on the grounds of the Fild estate

Death of Anna Schlatter

1854

Setting the school chronicle

1855

Marriage with Josefine Trip

1857

Resignation from office as director of the Prussian Teacher Training College in Moers, assumption of office as school administrator.

1858

Foundation of the "Protestant School Board for Rhineland and Westphalia

1861

Trip to Berlin

1870

Visit d. Alsace during the war

1880 – 1883

provides Waisenberg for the foundation of the "Elim Rescue Institution

1882

50th anniversary, speech by F.W. Dörpfeld

1885

Termination of the cooperation on the village chronicle

1887

Closure of the "Filder Erziehungsanstalten", illnesses Death of Josefine Trip

20.03.1890

Death anniversary of Franz Ludwig Zahn

Burial in the Zahn ́sche private cemetery on the grounds of the Fild estate.