Hahn was born in
Frankfurt am Main. In 1847, he was named Austrian
consul in
Ioannina, today in Greece. He was transferred to the Hellenic Kingdom on the island of
Syros in 1851, and until 1869 was the consul-general in
Athens. He is considered the founder of
Albanian studies. He assembled and published source materials on Albanian language and culture as descendants of ancient
Illyrians.
His published works:
Albanesische Studien. 3 vols. Jena: F. Mauko, 1854; Vienna: Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, 1853 (reprint Dion.Karavias, Athen 1981)
Reise von Belgrad nach Salonik. Vienna: K. K. Consul für östliche Griechenland, 1861.
Griechische und albanesische Märchen. 2 vols. Leipzig: 1864; Munich/Berlin 1918 – as
ebook and
several Google Books scans at archive.org
Reise durch die Gebiete von Drin und Wardar. Vienna: 1867.