Raspe was born in Hanover, studied science and philology and worked as a librarian for several universities before having to flee to England in 1775 after pilfering some gems that were supposedly in his care. In 1791 he had to move again (to Ireland) after his involvement in a mining swindle in Scotland. He died in County Kerry, Ireland in 1794.
The Baron Munchausen tales were made famous when they were 'borrowed', translated into German, and embellished somewhat by G. A. Bürger in 1786 - and have been a favourite read of subsequent generations, as well as the basis of several films, including Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.