Doctor David Becher was born on February 19, 1725 in Karlovy Vary in the house “Two Chains” (Zwei Ketten) as the sixth child of merchant Leopold Becher (1682–1748) and his wife Anna Maria, née Richter. The large Becher family had lived in the town since the second half of the 16th century. Around 1570, Georg Becher (then spelled Pecher) came to Karlovy Vary from Jindřichovice near Sokolov. His son Michael became the town miller, and his descendants established three family lines. The first focused for generations on tailoring, the second became famous as pharmacists, and the third, to which Doctor David Becher belonged, initially worked as shoemakers. Even the grandfather of the famous doctor, whose name he inherited, was a shoemaker, but his father Leopold became a merchant, and his children and descendants continued in trade.
Family Ties
Two of David Becher’s brothers, Johann Anton (1718–1752) and Johann Wenzel (1729–1784), were merchants like their father. The younger brother Georg Franz (1726–1750) studied law but died shortly after obtaining his doctorate. The famous founder of the liqueur company Josef Vitus Becher (1769–1840) was the son of Johann Wenzel Becher, also engaged in trade and mayor of Karlovy Vary. David Becher was his uncle.
David Becher’s Marriages
David Becher was married twice, both times to widows. His first wife was Anna Sabina Dupont, widow of Karlovy Vary surgeon Leopold Franz Dupont. David and Anna Sabina were married on October 15, 1758 in Karlovy Vary. A year later, on October 24, they had a daughter, Veronika Maria Magdalena, who sadly died two weeks later on November 6, 1759. The couple had no further children. Anna Sabina Becher died on February 22, 1780 in the house “Otrok” (Sklavin) at the age of 55. In the death register, she is referred to as a “benefactor of our church.”
David Becher’s second wife was Kateřina von Schrott, a widow of a Prague university professor. The date of their marriage is unknown. Karlovy Vary historian and archivist Karl Ludwig noted in his 1925 book about David Becher that the marriage likely occurred shortly after the mourning period for Anna Sabina ended.
Karlovy Vary in 1733
Houses and Property
House “Two Chains”
The house “Two Chains,” where David Becher was born, stood on the right bank of the Teplá River behind the Hot Spring near the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Today the area is an open space and part of the Vřídelní street. Across the river stands the house “Three Rings” (Tržiště No. 28/7), where his nephew Josef Vitus was born on September 17, 1769. According to an address book from the early 19th century, the house had two floors, five windows on each, and housed spa baths (Sprudelbäder). The house was demolished in 1877 to make way for the new Hot Spring Colonnade, designed by the Viennese architectural firm Fellner and Helmer.
House “Otrok” and David Becher’s Death
According to the death register, David Becher died on February 5, 1792, aged 67, in the house “Otrok,” just like his first wife. The house stood on the right bank of the Teplá River near the Jánský Bridge, opposite the house “White Swan” (Weisse Schwan). Originally numbered 215, as noted in the death records, the house was later numbered 244. It had two floors and five windows on each. The exact date of demolition is unknown, but plans indicate it was before 1876. Today, a road runs through the site, in front of the former Savings Bank building.
Portrait of David Becher from the 19th century / Plan of Karlovy Vary from 1831. House “Otrok” is marked with a red circle, and house “Two Chains” with a blue square.
Other Property
Besides the house “Otrok,” David Becher also owned a building plot on the site of a house that burned down in the city fire of May 23, 1759, near “Otrok.” Later, the famous Hotel “Zum Goldenen Schild” was built there, which was demolished after the 1910 spa season. Today, a park occupies the site at Theatre Square. David Becher also owned the so-called Götzischer Garden (Götzischer Garten) with a garden house. It is said that he often invited his patients there. The area later became the Municipal Garden (Stadtgarten), today the Jean de Carro Park. Becher also owned meadows, fields, and barns.
Author: Lukáš Svoboda, Karlovy Vary Museum
