Reprising this amusing item (via Roger Donway), from a brief obituary in The New York Times, August 2, 1927, page 21:
“Emil C. Kant, last German relative of Emmanuel Kant, famous philosopher, was buried in Corozal Cemetery, Canal Zone, yesterday … . While a student at the University of Dorpat, Emil was conscripted by the German Army, thereby failing to obtain the degree Doctor of Medicine. He rebelled against army discipline, assaulted a superior officer and deserted the army, fleeing to Africa. Later, he went to the United States and came to Central America in connection with the construction of the railroad from Port Limon, Costa Rica, to San Jose, capital of that country.”
Imagine that: a Kant who failed to do his duty, disobeyed, and followed his inclinations. A snippet from the Times says “Philosopher’s Relative Sought All Over the World for 40 Years.”
Related: Immanuel Kant, in the Philosopher’s Explained series:
He was my great grandfather. I spent my summers in boquete province chiriqui republic of panama on his coffee plantation. He was interred during the war you know, because he was of German heritage.
He was also my Great Grandfather. My ex-wife was the first to make the official connection with Emil and his family in Germany.