The poet Heinrich Heine said that Kant's personal life did not yield an impressive biography. Kant (b. 1724) was born to a harness-maker of limited means and he led a life of teaching and contemplation, never engaging in public activities of any importance. After graduating from university, he worked as a private tutor to make a living until, at the age of thirty-one, he finally habilitated and began teaching as a lecturer (Privatdozent) at the University of Königsberg.