theodor friedrich stein (1730 – 1788) was a german miniaturist and pastellist, active in hamburg 1750–70 and subsequently lübeck. he was born in hamburg and studied at göttingen. he entered the civil service and worked in the department of mines and manufactures. he was appointed kammerdirektor (director of the chamber of war and domains) for the king's possessions west of the river weser in 1787. from 1796 until 1803 he was supreme president of all the westphalian chambers dealing with the commerce and mines of those prussian lands with seat in minden. he improved the navigation of the weser and canalized the river ruhr, which became an important outlet for the coal of that region. he died in lübeck in 1788.
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